Cardiac arrest is a condition when the heart stops beating. When this happens, vital organs no longer receive oxygenated blood, and this is a medical emergency. Cardiac arrest can occur anywhere, including in the bathroom. This is because daily activities can play a role in triggering cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest that occurs in the bathroom poses certain challenges. Because bathrooms tend to be private spaces, the provision of care or help can be delayed.
Cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart is electrically damaged, causing an irregular heartbeat. This damage may be more likely to occur in a person bathing or defecating due to the stress that such activity can cause to the body.
1. Defecation
Reported by Healthline, when defecating, a person may feel tense or push themselves. This is common, but can cause stress to the heart. If heart function has been impaired, this can be a trigger for sudden cardiac arrest.
In addition, defecation can also trigger something called a vasovagal response, which can put pressure on the vagus nerve, which can sometimes slow the heart rate.
2. Bathing
Bathing with too cold water (water temperature below 21 degrees Celsius) or too hot (water temperature above 44 degrees Celsius) can affect the heart rate quickly. As body temperature adjusts quickly while bathing, it can put pressure on arteries and capillaries.
There is not much quality data on how often sudden cardiac arrest occurs in the bathroom. However, it makes sense that this setting is more common for cardiac arrest than others due to the pressure that the vascular system can experience.
According to a 2017 report in the Journal of General and Family Medicine, soaking in water over the shoulders (and/or much warmer than room temperature) can pose an additional risk to people who have pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension or heart disease.
3. Overdose
An overdose of the drug can cause sudden cardiac arrest in some cases. If you store medication in the bathroom medicine cabinet, this can increase your risk of having cardiac arrest in the bathroom.
It is also possible that an overdose of drugs can cause cardiac arrest. If the drug is used inside or before entering the bathroom, this can be the cause of cardiac arrest that occurs while in the bathroom.
4. Getting help when experiencing cardiac arrest in the bathroom
If you need medical help in the bathroom for any reason, it's important to get help even if you may feel embarrassed. Let someone know immediately if you're in the bathroom and start experiencing:
- Chest pain.
- Sudden shortness of breath.
- Dizzy.
- Vomit.
- It is difficult to breathe.
- Faint.
If you have an increased risk of cardiac arrest, let anyone who lives with you know so they can help in the event of an emergency. Here are some factors that can increase the risk of cardiac arrest:
- Obesity.
- Hypertension.
- Diabetes.
- Family history of heart disease.
- Be 65 years of age or older.
Consider asking people who live in the same house to check on you if you're in the bathroom for a period of time. If the door is knocked but there is no response, it is a sign that you need help.
- You can also practice these safe habits while in the bathroom:
- Not immersing yourself in the bathtub risks hot water over the chest while soaking.
- Set an alarm while in the bathtub.
- Do not take a hot bath after taking sleeping pills or relaxants.
- Put the cellphone within arm range while in the bathroom if emergency assistance is needed.
Cardiac arrest can occur in the bathroom due to several causes. That's why it's important to know the risks of cardiac arrest and communicate those risks to others who live together, and educate about providing help.
Although it can be life-threatening, cardiac arrest is reversible if treated immediately. Seek local emergency medical help immediately, or contact anyone around you, if you experience chest pain or other heart-related symptoms.