Attention to SCA Prevention!

What is SCA?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a condition where the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. This month, the month of October, is SCA awareness month!

Most people who have SCA die from it, often within just a few minutes. Rapid treatment of SCA with a defibrillator can be lifesaving, though it is important to learn how to prevent it.

SCA prevention:

Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can help lower your risk for heart disease, SCA, as well as other heart problems. Heart-healthy lifestyle includes:

- Heart-healthy eating (ex: drinking a lot of water, a diet low in unhealthy fats and high in fruits and vegetables, avoiding oily, sugary and high-carb foods, avoiding processed food, etc.)

- Aiming for a healthy body weight

- Managing stress/ anger

- Increasing physical activity

- Not smoking

Warning Signs and Symptoms:

Warning signs and symptoms can appear up to two weeks before a cardiac arrest. Chest pain is most commonly reported by men, while women commonly report shortness of breath. You may also experience unexplained fainting or dizziness, fatigue or a racing heart.

Now that you are more aware of this matter, it is important to start applying these actions to prevent yourself from a cardiac arrest. In addition, as it is SCA awareness month, it is crucial that you spread your knowledge and this information to help prevent others from having this occur to them as well. SCA could happen to anyone, so stay safe now that you are more aware of how to prevent yourself from getting it. Stay healthy!!

Sources:

webmd.com

nhlbi.nih.gov

geisinger.org