Which of the following can be symptoms of impending sudden cardiac arrest?

• A. arm pain
• B. breathing difficulties
• C. chest pain
• D. none of these

Answer: (D)

Sudden cardiac arrest can strike with little or no warning, and there isn’t a single reliable sign that shows it’s about to happen. Arm pain, breathing difficulties, and chest pain are more commonly linked to other heart problems, like a heart attack or angina, rather than a predictable precursor to sudden cardiac arrest. Because no definite symptom reliably signals an impending SCA, the safest stance is that none of these listed symptoms can be trusted as a definite predictor. In real life, any chest pain or trouble breathing should be treated as urgent and you should call emergency services and be prepared to start CPR if the person becomes unresponsive.