What is the name of the condition where the heart stops beating effectively?

The condition in which the heart stops beating effectively is cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the heart can no longer pump blood adequately, so circulation to the brain and other organs rapidly falls.

A person in cardiac arrest is typically unresponsive and not breathing normally, or may only gasp. The immediate response is to call emergency services, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and use an automated external defibrillator if one is available. Rapid treatment matters because the brain can suffer serious oxygen deprivation within minutes.

Cardiac arrest is often caused by a dangerous electrical rhythm, especially ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It can also result from heart disease, heart failure, severe blood loss, lack of oxygen, major electrolyte disturbances, or electrical injury. An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm, but most arrhythmias do not cause cardiac arrest.

Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked; it can damage the heart and may trigger cardiac arrest. Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart cannot pump effectively enough to meet the body’s needs, but the heart usually continues beating.