What is Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency when the heart suddenly stops beating.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is when the electrical system of the heart unexpectedly ceases to function. Often, this is because of irregular and rapid quivering of the heart’s lower pumping chambers (ventricles) called ventricular fibrillation. When this occurs, the heart stops beating and blood stops flowing from the heart to the brain and other vital organs, causing loss of consciousness or seizure-like activity in seconds.

SCA is not a heart attack, which occurs when blockage in a coronary artery interrupts blood flow to the working heart.