Vivian Reijs (42), a well-known TV presenter and founder of the health platform Vivonline.nl, recently experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. Here's a clear explanation of what occurs during such a medical emergency.
Vivian shared her story on Instagram: "Last week my world literally and figuratively stood still for a while. As I had a brief cardiac arrest last Wednesday. Thanks to the great help of my dear Day and the paramedics, who were very quick, thank goodness, they were able to resuscitate me. And I'm still here! If they hadn't been there, I don't know how it would have ended."
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As a health expert by profession and passion, Vivian has always prioritized her well-being—mindful eating, hydration, supplements, and regular exercise. She felt physically strong, yet this incident highlighted a key oversight: failing to heed her own limits, manage stress, and carve out personal time in recent years.
During a cardiac arrest, the heart abruptly stops pumping blood, depriving organs of oxygen-rich blood. Consciousness is lost within 10 seconds, and the skin may appear grayish.
The leading cause is a heart attack, where a coronary artery suddenly blocks, starving part of the heart muscle of blood and oxygen. Other triggers include cardiomyopathy, heart failure, or arrhythmias.
Cardiac arrest demands immediate intervention. Brain cells suffer irreversible damage after 4-6 minutes without oxygen, followed by other organs. Prompt CPR and defibrillation with an AED dramatically boost survival odds.
Source: Linda.nl, Hartstichting
