Over the past few weeks, the news has been flooded with details and updates about Damar Hamlin, a 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety who, during a Jan. 2 game, collapsed on the field and went into sudden cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness; it can be caused by a heart attack but not all sudden cardiac arrest are caused by heart attacks. According to medical experts from RWJBarnabas Health, when someone goes into sudden cardiac arrest, their heart stops pumping blood and the lack of blood flow to the brain and other organs can cause one to lose consciousness. Read More
Jason Krystofiak, MD, a primary care sports medicine physician and medical director of the Matthew J. Morahan III Health Assessment Center for Athletes of RWJBarnabas Health who also serves as medical director of sports medicine for the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center/Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center and as a team physician for Rutgers Athletics.
Gary J. Rogal, MD, medical director for RWJBarnabas Health Cardiovascular Services.at RWJBarnabas Health