1.
cardiac arrest; heart stoppage
The sudden cessation of heart function, in which the heart stops pumping blood effectively. A life-threatening medical emergency.
A compound of 心 (heart) and 停止 (stoppage, cessation). A critical medical term that appears frequently in news reports and emergency medical contexts.
In Japan, AEDs (自動体外式除細動器) are widely installed in public places — train stations, schools, shopping centers, and offices. Public awareness campaigns have made 心停止 and basic life-saving procedures well known to the general public.
Note: In Japanese medical and legal contexts, 心停止 (cardiac arrest) is distinct from 心臓死 (cardiac death). A person in cardiac arrest may still be resuscitated.
Common collocations
- 心停止を起こす: to go into cardiac arrest
- 心停止の状態: state of cardiac arrest
- 突然心停止: sudden cardiac arrest
- 心停止からの蘇生: resuscitation from cardiac arrest
Related words
- 心肺蘇生: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- AED: automated external defibrillator
- 心臓発作: heart attack — blockage of blood flow to the heart