The most common cause of a cardiac arrest is a life threatening abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (VF). Ventricular fibrillation happens when the electrical activity of your heart becomes so chaotic that the heart stops pumping and quivers or 'fibrillates' instead. There are various causes of VF.
If you have arthritis, you may have considered a cortisone shot as part of your treatment plan. These shots are not pain relievers. Cortisone is a type of steroid, a drug that lowers inflammation, which is something that can lead to less pain. Cortisone injections can be used to treat inflammation of small areas of the body, such as inflammation of a specific joint or tendon. They can also treat inflammation that is widespread throughout the body, such as with allergic reactions, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis, which affects many joints.
By injecting the cortisone into a particular area of inflammation, very high concentrations of the medication can be given while keeping potential side-effects to a minimum. Cortisone injections usually work within a few days, and the effects can last up to several weeks. In addition to injected cortisone, many physicians will mix the cortisone with another medication that may provide pain relief effects.