12/14/2025
"SCA per AHA" refers to Sudden Cardiac Arrest, which the American Heart Association (AHA) defines as the abrupt and unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
SCA occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, causing it to stop beating effectively and cutting off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Without immediate intervention, death can occur within minutes.
SCA is not a heart attack (myocardial infarction), which is caused by a blockage in a coronary artery that cuts off blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. A heart attack can, however, trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to SCA.