Number of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Deaths - 2020 Updated Stats

Here you can read and learn about the SCA, what it actually is, how big is the impact of this condition, and what are the ways for you to help in an emergency situation.

What is the SCA?

You are probably already familiar with the general notion of what sudden cardiac arrest is.

If you are not completely sure - a sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart stops beating abruptly and unexpectedly. It means there is a presence of an abnormality in the heart’s electrical system (ventricular fibrillation).

The blood stops flowing to the brain, the heart, and the rest of the body. As a consequence of this condition, the person stops breathing, shows no viable pulse, and suddenly collapses.

In some cases, prior to the SCA, the person exhibits symptoms such as:

• shortness of breath
• general weakness
• heart palpitations (fast-beating, pounding, or fluttering heart)
• discomfort and in the chest area
• dizziness and lightheadedness.

But what can be the cause of SCA?

There are several factors that could increase the chances of SCA:

• enlarged heart
• congenital heart defect (abnormalities present at birth)
• valvular heart disease
• coronary artery disease.

It is usually connected to a preexisting heart condition, but it can also happen to people with no history of heart disease.

For those who don’t suffer from some form of heart condition, there are risk factors such as:

• smoking
• high cholesterol and blood pressure
• obesity
• diabetes, etc.
• The severity of the impact

Here are some of the most important numbers and statistics on how many people are affected by the SCA in the USA alone.

The main information is that every 86 second a person suffers from SCA.

What does that number mean and how serious it actually is? To gain additional perspective, let us make some comparisons.

1. that is equal to two times the number of graduate students that have doctorate degrees in the USA
2. it is roughly the same as one large classroom of people every hour
3. two full airplanes on an everyday basis
4. one full movie theater every workday
5. two completely full cruise ships every week
6. Disneyland on its full capacity every three months
7. four of the world’s largest stadiums at their full capacity.

Looking at those number, the magnitude and severity of this condition an the toll it has on human lives is undeniably clear.

For a more visually effective representation of the provided stats, check out www.avive.life.

Ways to help

It is of paramount significance that you know how to react in this situation as your quick reaction could potentially save someone’s life.

Here are the three steps you need to know to in order to improve someone’s chances of surviving the SCA.

Step 1: recognize SCA and call 911 right away

Step 2: perform a hands-only CPR

Step 3: if possible, use an AED (a portable defibrillator)to restart the heart.

Not everyone reacts the same to an emergency situation. Some people tend to freeze when it is crucial to react swiftly.

If that is the case, you can choose one word for each step to remember them more easily. For example, those words could be CALL, PUSH, SHOCK. By remembering it in a form of a short phrase, all the other information should immediately come rushing back.

However, even when the right steps are being taken, surviving a condition as serious and sudden as SCA is unfortunately not always guaranteed.

At the end of the day, the fact is that SCA is a serious problem that takes too many lives in the USA, every hour of every day.