What is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Why it is called so ?

In this post, let us understand medical terminology - CPR (also know as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

What is CPR ?

It's a daily existence sparing clinical strategy which is given to somebody who is in heart failure. It assists with pumping blood around the individual's body when their heart can't.

To do CPR an individual presses up and down on the casualty’s chest (chest compressions) and gives them a progression of salvage breaths to help spare their life when they are in heart failure.

Then, what is Cardiac Arrest?

A cardiac arrest is caused by an electrical problem in the heart. This electrical problem causes the heart to stop pumping blood around the body and to the brain.

It causes the person to fall unconscious and stop breathing. Without CPR the person will die within minutes.

When to use CPR ?

CPR should only be used only if some is :

a) unconscious and not breathing

b) unconscious and not breathing normally

If someone is unconscious but they are breathing normally, then call immediately emergency care.

What will happen if their heart is beating but they are not breathing?

This is called a respiratory arrest, and it will become a cardiac arrest quickly without CPR. Don’t waste time checking for a pulse – if someone is unresponsive and not breathing or not breathing normally then call immediately emergency care number and start CPR.

How long should I continue CPR?

Be aware !! it is advisable to call emergency care before you start CPR. Once you inform emergency care team, you are good to proceed with CPR until professional help comes in and takes over the patient. 

Remember, do take support of others, near by people, to do CPR incase you are exhausted.

What are the signs of regaining consciousness ?

Below signs determines the patient is regaining his consciousness

a) opening their eyes

b) coughing 

c) starting to breathe normally.

Stop CPR if the person regains consciousness. 

If the person starts to breathe normally but still unconscious, put them into the recovery position and pay attention to their breathing until help arrives.

Does CPR really helps ???

By performing chest compressions and rescue breaths, you are taking over the role of their heart and lungs, pumping blood and oxygen around their body.

Every second counts – any delay can quickly reduce a person’s chance of survival.

How do defibrillators help?

When a person has a cardiac arrest a defibrillator can be used to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm.

Defibrillators are simple and safe to use, and will not shock unless it’s appropriate. 

Is a cardiac arrest the same as a heart attack?

No, but both are medical emergencies, so it is always safe to call emergency care immediately.

A heart attack happens when an artery supplying blood to the heart muscle becomes blocked. This starves part of the heart muscle of oxygen and causes symptoms such as chest pain or discomfort. A person having a heart attack is usually still conscious and breathing.

If a heart attack isn’t treated, it can lead to a cardiac arrest.

Source: British Heart Foundation