A Heart Attack Is caused by blocked blood flow to your heart muscle, so the heart muscle begins to die. Is often preceded by chest, arm, upper abdomen, or jaw pain. Is frequently accompanied by nausea and sweating. Usually lets you remain conscious. The Prevalence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death among American adults, killing more than 250,000 people a year.
Risk increases with age.
Pre-existing heart disease is a common cause. But many victims have never had any heart problems before. Your heart simply quivers ineffectually, providing little or no blood flow to your body. You lose consciousness in a matter of seconds. When the medical team arrives, they use an external defibrillator to apply strong electrical shocks to your chest.