Cyprus Times

The 2 Symptoms That Warn of Cardiac Arrest

Published January 4, 2026, 20:05
The 2 Symptoms That Warn of Cardiac Arrest

A new American study suggests that cardiac arrest is not always a completely sudden event. According to the research, half of the people who experienced cardiac arrest showed at least one warning symptom 24 hours before the incident, with symptoms differing between men and women. Specifically, men reported chest pain, while women reported shortness of breath. Other symptoms observed included increased heart rate, seizure-like episodes, and flu-like symptoms. Dr. Sumeet Chugh emphasizes that early detection of these symptoms can be life-saving, given the high mortality rate in cases of cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting. The study was based on data from two cities in the US, comparing the symptoms of people who experienced cardiac arrest with those who sought emergency medical care for other reasons. In Greece, deaths from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are high, reaching nearly 80,000 annually, while in Attica, 7-18 arrests occur daily. The research highlights the need for increased awareness of warning symptoms, especially in people with underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or heart disease. Researchers suggest that in the future, smart applications and wearable devices could help better identify individuals at increased risk of cardiac arrest. In any case, they emphasize that any chest pain that is unprecedented and accompanied by shortness of breath, increased heart rate, dizziness, fainting, sweating, or nausea requires immediate medical attention.