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Published on: Apr 15, 2025
4 minute read
By: Secondmedic Expert

Understanding Cardiac Arrest: Causes, Symptoms, And Life-Saving Actions

Cardiac arrest is a serious and sudden medical emergency. It happens when the heart unexpectedly stops beating. This condition cuts off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs, and without quick treatment, it can lead to death within minutes.

Even though the term might sound scary, the good news is that understanding cardiac arrest can help you act quickly and potentially save a life. In this blog, we’ll explore what cardiac arrest is, why it happens, the warning signs, and how to respond if it ever occurs.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping blood throughout the body. This is usually due to a problem with the heart's electrical system. Without a regular heartbeat, the brain, lungs, and other organs don’t get the oxygen they need, which can cause a person to collapse and become unresponsive.

It's important to know that cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is when the heart suddenly stops beating altogether. A heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest, but the two are different conditions.

What Causes Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest can be caused by several different factors, including heart-related and non-heart-related issues. The most common causes include:

1. Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Arrhythmias)

The most common cause of cardiac arrest is an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation. This happens when the heart beats in a fast and irregular way, preventing it from pumping blood properly.

2. Heart Attack

A heart attack can damage the heart's electrical system and trigger cardiac arrest. If the heart muscle is injured, it may not beat correctly.

3. Heart Disease

People with coronary artery disease, heart failure, or cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle) are more likely to experience cardiac arrest.

4. Congenital Heart Conditions

Some people are born with heart abnormalities that increase the risk of cardiac arrest, especially in young athletes.

5. Drug Overdose or Substance Abuse

Illegal drugs like cocaine or meth, or even certain prescription medications, can interfere with the heart’s rhythm and lead to cardiac arrest.

6. Severe Blood Loss or Oxygen Shortage

Situations such as drowning, choking, or serious injury can reduce oxygen levels in the body, causing the heart to stop.

Who Is at Risk?

Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, but some people have a higher risk than others. Risk factors include:

History of heart disease or previous heart attack
High blood pressure or high cholesterol
Diabetes
Smoking
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Family history of sudden cardiac arrest
Use of recreational drugs

Even athletes and young people can suffer from cardiac arrest, especially if they have an undiagnosed heart condition. That’s why regular health checkups are essential.

Signs and Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest usually happens suddenly and without warning. A person may:

Collapse without any reason
Lose consciousness immediately
Stop breathing or gasp for air
Have no pulse

Sometimes, a person may have warning signs just minutes before cardiac arrest, such as:

Chest discomfort
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Dizziness or fainting
Shortness of breath

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially in someone with heart disease, take it seriously and seek medical help.

What to Do in Case of Cardiac Arrest?

When cardiac arrest happens, every second counts. Here’s what you need to do immediately:

1. Call Emergency Services

Call your local emergency number right away (e.g., 911). Tell them it's a suspected cardiac arrest so they send help quickly.

2. Start CPR

Begin chest compressions immediately. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest (about 2 inches deep) at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. If you're trained, you can also give rescue breaths.

3. Use an AED

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a device that can help restart the heart. If one is available nearby, use it as soon as possible. AEDs are designed to be simple to use, even for people without medical training.

The combination of CPR and an AED can greatly increase the chance of survival until professional help arrives.

How Is Cardiac Arrest Treated?

Emergency responders may use advanced tools and medications to stabilize the heart. After arriving at the hospital, doctors may:

Run tests to find the cause of the arrest
Use defibrillation again if needed
Provide medications to support heart function
Implant a device called an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) in people at high risk to prevent future arrests

Ongoing care may also involve lifestyle changes, medications, and treating underlying conditions like high blood pressure or arrhythmias.

Can Cardiac Arrest Be Prevented?

Yes, in many cases, cardiac arrest can be prevented by leading a heart-healthy lifestyle and managing medical conditions early. Here’s how:

Exercise regularly
Eat a heart-healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and whole grains
Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol
Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar under control
Manage stress through mindfulness, meditation, or hobbies
Get regular check-ups, especially if you have a family history of heart issues

If you’ve already had a heart attack or have known heart problems, your doctor might recommend medications or devices like an ICD to reduce your risk of cardiac arrest.

Why CPR and AED Training Matter

Every minute without CPR reduces a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. If more people knew how to perform CPR and use an AED, many lives could be saved every year.

Consider taking a CPR training course in your community. It’s a small investment of time that can make a huge difference in someone’s life—even a stranger's.

Conclusion

Cardiac arrest is a sudden and life-threatening condition that can affect anyone, regardless of age or health. Recognizing the warning signs, understanding the risk factors, and knowing how to respond with CPR or an AED can mean the difference between life and death. While it’s a frightening topic, being informed and prepared can help you protect yourself and your loved ones.

Read FAQs

A. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked, but the heart usually keeps beating. Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating, often due to an electrical issue. A heart attack can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest.

A. Common warning signs include sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing, and loss of consciousness. Some people may feel dizzy, have chest pain, or shortness of breath just before cardiac arrest occurs.

A. Cardiac arrest is treated with CPR (chest compressions) and the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to restart the heart. Emergency medical help should be called immediately.

A. People with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or a family history of heart problems are at higher risk. It can also affect athletes with undiagnosed heart conditions and people who use certain drugs.

A. Yes. Living a heart-healthy lifestyle—like exercising regularly, eating well, avoiding smoking, and managing medical conditions—can help prevent cardiac arrest. Regular check-ups also help detect heart issues early.

Read Blog

Wearable Health Monitoring India Market: Tracking Wellness & Chronic Care | SecondMedic

In India, wearable health monitoring is no longer a nice-to-have accessory - it’s becoming central to how people manage wellness, chronic conditions and preventive care. With the rise of lifestyle diseases, increasing smartphone penetration and growing consumer health awareness, the wearable health monitoring market is gaining serious momentum.

Market Size & Growth Outlook

According to a detailed study, the Indian wearable medical devices market generated approximately USD 2,344.5 million (USD 2.34 billion) in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5,670.6 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 16?tween 2025 and 2030. Grand View Research
Another research source puts the medical wearables market in India at USD 1.04 billion in 2024, forecast to reach USD 4.20 billion by 2033 at ~15.5?GR. IMARC Group

These figures underscore a major shift: wearables are becoming an integral part of India’s health-tech ecosystem - not just fitness gadgets, but devices capable of monitoring heart-rate, sleep, activity, arrhythmia, vitals, and enabling remote patient monitoring.

Why This Growth Is Happening

Chronic disease burden: With rising incidences of diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and obesity, there’s a greater demand for continuous monitoring and early alerts.
Digital health push: Government programmes like the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) and greater smartphone/internet penetration support connected health solutions.
Consumer awareness & wellness culture: More Indians are adopting health-tech and wearables as part of lifestyle, not just for tracking steps but for meaningful health insights.
Home-based care & remote monitoring: The pandemic accelerated acceptance of home-based diagnostics and monitoring - making wearables more relevant for remote care models.
Device innovation & cost reduction: Improved sensors, cheaper manufacturing and localised device assembly are easing access and lowering barriers for adoption.

Segmentation & Key Areas of Impact

Product type: Smartwatches, fitness bands, smart rings, medical-grade monitors for vitals, remote patient monitoring sensors. For instance, the broader smart wearable market in India shows health & fitness tracking made up ~54.35% of the market in 2024. Mordor Intelligence+1
Application: Chronic disease monitoring, preventive wellness, senior care, remote patient monitoring. The largest revenue segment in 2024 is chronic disease management. Grand View Research
Geography & access: Urban metros lead adoption today but Tier-2/3 towns and rural areas represent the next frontier, especially when paired with telehealth and wearable-data integration.

How SecondMedic Fits In

At SecondMedic, we believe monitoring is as important as diagnostics - and wearables are key to that vision. Our platform integrates wearable-generated data into our digital health ecosystem so we can provide:

Continuous monitoring for individuals managing chronic conditions - enabling earlier interventions when trends suggest risk.
Preventive insights for health-conscious users - wearable data feeds into our dashboards to flag deviations and prompt doctor consults.
Remote care models for seniors or mobility-limited users - wearable alerts tie into tele-consultation and remote monitoring workflows.
Data-driven coaching - using wearable metrics (sleep, activity, heart-rate variability) to personalise lifestyle recommendations and follow-up plans.

By combining wearable health monitoring with virtual consultations, diagnostics and preventive screening, SecondMedic offers a holistic digital health solution - not just episodic care but continuous well-being.

Challenges Ahead

Despite strong growth, wearable health monitoring in India faces some headwinds:

Affordability & accessibility: While top-tier wearables are affordable for many urban users, the device cost and ecosystem (apps, data, follow-ups) can be a barrier for rural and lower-income groups.
Device accuracy & clinical validation: Consumer-grade wearables may lack medical-grade accuracy. For serious clinical usage, device certification and integration with health records are required.
Data integration & usability: Wearable data alone isn’t enough - it needs to be integrated into clinical workflows, trusted by doctors and actionable.
Digital literacy & internet/connectivity: Rural areas and older populations may face challenges using wearables effectively or syncing data.
Regulatory and privacy issues: With health data being sensitive, wearables must ensure strong data security, interoperability and comply with frameworks like NDHM.

Real-World Calculation & Uptake Example

If the market grows from USD 2.34 billion in 2024 to USD 5.67 billion by 2030, that’s roughly a 2.4× increase in six years.
At 16?GR, wearable adoption is expected to double approximately every 4.5 years.
If chronic disease monitoring is the largest segment today, then targeting those affected by diabetes/hypertension (over ~100 million Indians) gives enormous addressable potential for wearable monitoring + telehealth.
For SecondMedic platform users: even if 1% of chronic-disease patients adopt wearables and remote monitoring via our service, that could represent hundreds of thousands of people nationwide - driving meaningful growth in preventive care utilisation.

Looking Ahead

As sensors get cheaper, wearables become more accurate and integrated with digital health platforms, we expect:

Wearables prescribed by doctors as part of home-care plans for chronic patients.
Insurance-linked models where usage of wearables triggers incentives or premium discounts.
Data ecosystems where wearable telemetry flows into platforms like SecondMedic, enabling predictive analytics, alerts and personalised care.
Greater rural uptake with low-cost devices, smartphone penetration and telehealth coupling.

Conclusion

The wearable health monitoring market in India is at an inflection point - moving from fitness gadgets to serious health-tech tools.
For health platforms like SecondMedic, this is a major opportunity: wearable data becomes another input in delivering continuous, personalised, preventive and remote care.

Because health isn’t just about testing now - it’s about monitoring, tracking, and intervening early.

Discover how SecondMedic integrates wearable health monitoring into your care journey at www.secondmedic.com

References

Grand View Research: India wearable medical devices market USD 2,344.5 million in 2024, projected USD 5,670.6 million by 2030. Grand View Research
IMARC Group: India medical wearables market USD 1.04 billion in 2024; projected USD 4.20 billion by 2033. IMARC Group
Mordor Intelligence: India smart wearable market – 54.35% of revenue from health & fitness in 2024; chronic-disease monitoring CAGR ~24.7%. Mordor Intelligence

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