Exercise is indeed good for health, but who would have thought there are risks lurking? During exercise, blood flow increases because the heart works harder. This is good for the body's metabolism, but there are cases where people have died while exercising. The cause? Cardiac arrest.

Understanding Cardiac Arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. This is usually due to electrical disturbances in the heart that interfere with its function to pump blood, causing blood flow to stop. This is different from a heart attack, where blood flow to the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can trigger sudden cardiac arrest.

This condition can be caused by many things, such as thickening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart failure, arrhythmias, or long QT syndrome. Although it sounds scary, the chances of survival are still there if treated immediately with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or a defibrillator.

Risk Factors for Cardiac Arrest

Several factors increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, including:

1.        Family history of coronary artery disease.

2.        Smoking.

3.        High blood pressure.

4.        High blood cholesterol.

5.        Obesity.

6.        Diabetes.

7.        Inactive lifestyle.

If you have these risk factors, it is important to have regular check-ups with your doctor. Use apps like Halodoc to easily schedule appointments with doctors. Actions to Take During Cardiac Arrest

If you witness someone experiencing cardiac arrest, immediately call emergency medical services and use a defibrillator if available. While waiting, perform CPR to increase the chances of survival. If there are two people available to help, one should focus on CPR while the other calls for medical help and prepares the defibrillator.Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of sudden death, but with quick and proper treatment, many lives can be saved. 

Prevention is Better than Cure

Exercise is still important for health, but know your body's limits and have regular health check-ups. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor if you feel something is wrong with your

heart. With the right preventive steps, we can keep our hearts healthy and functioning well.