What is a common symptom of cardiac arrest?

• A. Chest pain
• B. Shortness of breath
• C. Unresponsiveness and absence of pulse
• D. Heavy sweating

Answer: (C)

In the context of cardiac arrest, the most definitive symptom is unresponsiveness accompanied by the absence of a pulse. During a cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood effectively, leading to a cessation of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. As a result, the person becomes unresponsive; they will not react to stimuli, and there will be no detectable pulse because the circulation has ceased.

While chest pain, shortness of breath, and heavy sweating can be associated with various heart conditions and may even precede a cardiac arrest, they do not definitively indicate that a cardiac arrest is occurring at that moment. The presence of unresponsiveness and an absence of pulse is the clear and unmistakable sign that indicates the critical emergency of cardiac arrest, necessitating immediate resuscitation efforts.