Sudden cardiac arrest is the consequence of a condition called as ventricular defibrillation. The ventricles of the heart contract which results in the heart beating in an irregular and arrhythmic manner also known as arrhythmia. This erratic heartbeat causes the heart to stop pumping blood efficiently and then suddenly results in a sudden cardiac arrest which makes a person lose consciousness and experience breathlessness and unless treatment is given immediately, it is difficult for the person to survive.
It is the leading cause of death in the United States having more than 300,000 victims in a single year. The survival rate for this heart condition is very less, with a mere five percent out of the 300,000 victims emerging as survivors. The biggest risk that is associated with sudden cardiac arrest is that it strikes without warning. People of any race, gender or sex can all suffer from it. If we have had a heart attack or if we are suffering with a heart disease or if we have a family history of cardiac death, we have more chances of suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.
Experiencing fainting spells, breathlessness, nausea, chest pain are all symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest. Having conditions like a previous heart disease history, having a low cardiac ejection fraction, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol all increase the chances of sudden cardiac arrest. The treatment of this condition is possible only by giving the patient cardiopulmonary resuscitation which means exhaling in to a person and pressing his chest in regular intervals to get oxygen into the system and the use of automated external defibrillators or AED’s which help in defibrillation which in turn means administering an electric shock in order to get the heart started.
An AED is very simple to use as it administers electric shocks depending on the heart condition and instructs the user with the help of a screen or by a voice prompt to help in giving the shocks. With such alarming statistics ,states like Florida have passed laws making it compulsory for dentist’s offices to have an AED.As most of the sudden cardiac arrests occur outside homes it is necessary to be well equipped. A vast number of people visit dentists and in case of such a situation occurring, all facilities must be ready to save the victim as unless treatment is given within the first five minutes the chances of survival are bleak.
The dentist and other workers in the office are required to learn the operation of the AED perfectly and keep it in an accessible place. According to reports, almost 200 cases of sudden cardiac arrests have been reported in dental offices. The chances of survival increase by 70% if an AED is used immediately. Thus, all dentists should consider installing an AED time at their work place because a person can suffer from a sudden cardiac arrest at any given time and they also consider it as a medical emergency office protocol.
