WHAT IS ARRHYTHMIA & SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST?

What is Arrhythmia & Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a sudden cessation of function of the heart.

Most people have experienced even a slight irregular heart beat at various instances in their life - Fluttering in their chest, very fast, or very slow heart beats. In some cases, these can be a sign or Arrhythmia or ventricular fibrillation. The heart pumps blood around our body using electrical impulses from our brain. When these electrical signals are not sent to the heart properly, the heart may not pump blood throughout the body properly, which can damage or even shut down the body.

Arrhythmia can result in Sudden Cardiac Arrest. This is when the heart stops pumping blood throughout our body, resulting in our body completely shutting down.

Can this happen to anyone at any age?

Yes.

Arrhythmia and SCA can affect young children, elderly adults, and everyone of every age in between. Many people associate heart conditions with adults, and often overlook the possibility of children being affected. We are striving to make sure schools across Switzerland are fully prepared in case this scenario arises.

I think I may have an Arrhythmic heart beat. Should I be worried?

In most cases, no.

It is quite common for people to experience an irregular heat beat every now and then as it is harmless in most cases. However, it's highly recommended to consult a doctor if you feel like this is or could be affecting your health.

I'd like to learn more about Arrhythmia and SCA. Are there any more resources?

Absolutely!

You can find a wealth of information about Arrhythmia and SCA by UCLA Health and The American Heart Association. You can always contact us if you'd like any more information about these conditions and/or our cause

Facts about Arrhythmia

  • 8,000 people in Switzerland suffer a cardiac arrest each year
  • Sudden cardiac arrest is the #1 cause of death in the Western world
  • The current survival rate for cardiac arrest is less than 5%
  • The cause of most cardiac arrests is an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) called ventricular fibrillation
  • The normal pumping of blood no longer occurs once ventricular fibrillation begins
  • Death usually follows unless a normal heart rhythm is restored by defibrillation within 5-7 minutes
  • Sudden cardiac arrest can occur at any age
  • Recent statistics show an alarming number of sudden cardiac deaths among school aged children and young adults

Facts about the Human Heart

  • Each day the average heart beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times and pumps about 7500 litres of blood
  • In a 70-year lifetime, an average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times
  • The heart does more physical work than any other muscle in the body, outputting between 1-5 watts
  • The heart beats on average about 75 times per minute, 4 million times per year, or about 2.5 billion times in an average lifespan