Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops because of a problem with the electrical signals that regulate the heart beat. It is often fatal if not treated immediately with CPR, AED, and rapid transport to the hospital. Cardiac arrest seldom has warning symptoms and is usually caused by a preexisting heart condition that a patient may or not be aware of.
Treatment and recovery depend on the cause and circumstances of the cardiac arrest. Doctors will likely order imaging and/or blood tests to examine the heart and pinpoint a cause. Treatment could include a cardiac catheterization procedure to open up blocked arteries or placement of an implantable defibrillator (ICD) or pacemaker to help sense and correct abnormal heartbeats.