Which statement defines cardiac arrest?

Which statement defines cardiac arrest?

• A. Heart beats irregularly
• B. Heart stops beating entirely
• C. Lungs stop functioning
• D. Blood pressure drops

Answer: (B)

Cardiac arrest means the heart stops pumping blood effectively, so circulation to the brain and other vital organs ceases. That immediate loss of circulation is what makes it an emergency requiring rapid CPR and defibrillation when indicated. An irregular heartbeat describes a rhythm disturbance, which can lead to poor or no blood flow but isn’t itself the definition of the heart stopping. Lungs stopping or breathing failure is a respiratory problem, not the cessation of cardiac pumping. A drop in blood pressure can occur with many conditions and doesn’t define cardiac arrest by itself.

Cardiac arrest means the heart stops pumping blood effectively, so circulation to the brain and other vital organs ceases. That immediate loss of circulation is what makes it an emergency requiring rapid CPR and defibrillation when indicated. An irregular heartbeat describes a rhythm disturbance, which can lead to poor or no blood flow but isn’t itself the definition of the heart stopping. Lungs stopping or breathing failure is a respiratory problem, not the cessation of cardiac pumping. A drop in blood pressure can occur with many conditions and doesn’t define cardiac arrest by itself.