By Betty Russell, Pure Matters Cardiac arrest occurs when the
heart unexpectedly stops beating, usually because of abnormal
heart rhythms, called arrhythmias. Surprisingly, cardiac arrest
most often strikes people in the prime of their lives--in their
mid-30s to mid-40s. Victims may appear healthy before cardiac
arrest and have no obvious symptoms of heart disease. But they
typically have undiagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD)--the
most common cause of the dangerous heart rhythm problems that
can lead to this condition. Other heart diseases that increase
the risk for cardiac arrest include: - A recent heart attack -
Heart failure (caused by the heart's decreased pumping ability)
- Inherited conditions that affect the heart CAD occurs when
fatty plaque deposits accumulate on the walls of the coronary
arteries, which supply blood to the heart. Over time, the plaque
buildup causes the coronary arteries to narrow. The plaque may
rupture and form blood clots, which can cause heart attacks by
limiting blood flow