If you are reading this, the chances are that something has happened that has completely changed the way you see your life. That is not an overstatement. A sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most disorienting and frightening events a person can live through, and the days and weeks afterwards can feel overwhelming in ways that are difficult to put into words.
You are in the right place.
SCA UK was founded in 2015 by survivors, for survivors. We are not a clinical service, and we are not here to replace your cardiologist or cardiac nurse. We are a community of thousands of people across the UK who have been exactly where you are now and who understand what you are going through in a way that most people in your life, including your medical team, may not.
This page is written for people who have recently come out of hospital after a sudden cardiac arrest. It is designed to answer the questions that feel most urgent, point you towards the information you need, and help you take your first steps.
If you are reading this on behalf of someone who has had a cardiac arrest, or because you witnessed an arrest or performed CPR, our co-survivors page is written for you.
Is what I’m feeling normal?
Almost certainly, yes.
The physical and emotional effects of cardiac arrest are wide-ranging, and many of them are poorly understood even by healthcare professionals. What you are experiencing is real, it is recognised, and you are not alone in it.
In the days and weeks after a cardiac arrest, it is common to feel some or all of the following:
- A persistent fear that it will happen again
- Anxiety about being alone, about sleeping, or about leaving the house
- Flashbacks to the arrest itself, or to waking up in hospital not knowing what had happened
- Grief, for the life you had before or for the sense of safety you have lost
- Anger, which can feel confusing when everyone around you expects you to feel grateful
- Physical exhaustion that does not seem to match how little you have done
- Difficulty concentrating, memory gaps, or a sense that your thinking is slower than it used to be
- Chest pain or soreness if you received CPR, as the chest wall and ribs heal
These are not signs that something is wrong with you. They are recognised after-effects of cardiac arrest and the trauma that surrounds it. Most improve with time and the right support.
Our after-effects section goes into detail on the most common after-effects, including fatigue, anxiety, PTSD, memory difficulties, and the effects on your senses. If something you are experiencing is worrying you, the chances are it is already documented there.
What do I need to know right now?
A few things are worth being clear about from the start.
Your follow-up appointment matters. If you do not yet have a follow-up appointment arranged with a cardiologist, contact your GP or the hospital team that treated you and ask when it will be scheduled. Do not wait to be chased. This appointment is your opportunity to ask questions, understand what caused your cardiac arrest, and discuss your ongoing care.
Write your questions down before you go. It is very common to arrive at an appointment and forget everything you wanted to ask, particularly in the early weeks, when concentration and memory may not be at their best. Keeping a running list on your phone or a notepad in the days before can make a real difference.
If you have been given an ICD, there are restrictions on driving and physical activity in the weeks after implant. These vary depending on your individual circumstances, but it is important to understand exactly what they are. Our guides to living with an ICD and driving and the DVLA cover these in full.
If you have not been given an ICD, your cardiologist will have had a reason for that decision. If you are unsure about it or want to understand it better, ask at your next appointment. Our FAQ section also includes answers to many questions survivors ask about treatment decisions.
Your medications may be new to you. If you have been sent home with medications you do not fully understand, our medications page explains the most common ones prescribed after cardiac arrest. If anything is unclear, your GP or cardiac pharmacist can help.
When will I start to feel better?
This is the question almost every survivor asks, and the honest answer is that there is no single timeline.
What we can tell you, from years of experience supporting survivors and their families, is that the first three months are often the hardest. The emotional intensity tends to be highest in this period. Physical recovery continues for longer, and some after-effects, particularly fatigue and cognitive difficulties, can persist well beyond that for some people.
We have put together a detailed guide to what to expect in the first three months, which draws on the experiences of survivors across our community. It covers the emotional, physical, and practical dimensions of early recovery, and many of our members have found it a useful anchor when things feel uncertain. The Resuscitation Council UK Survivor Quality Standards also set out what good follow-up care after cardiac arrest should look like, which may be useful to refer to at your next appointment.
The most important thing to know is this: things do get better. Not overnight, and not in a straight line. Recovery after cardiac arrest is rarely smooth. There will be good days and harder days, and that is to be expected. But the people in our community who are one, two, and five or more years on from their cardiac arrest are living evidence that life after SCA is possible, and often, eventually, good.
“Expect an emotional roller coaster, tears and anger and a little uncertainty, but followed by acceptance and new beginnings.”
Ingrid, SCA UK member
What about driving, work, and everyday life?
These are among the most urgent practical questions for many survivors, and the answers depend on your specific situation, your treatment, and in some cases the law.
Driving is subject to mandatory restrictions after cardiac arrest. The rules vary depending on whether you received an ICD, whether you hold a standard or vocational licence, and other clinical factors. Our driving and the DVLA guide explains everything you need to know, including how to notify the DVLA and what to expect from the process. You can also read the DVLA guidance on cardiovascular conditions directly on GOV.UK.
Returning to work is a question that often comes up before you feel ready to think about it. The answer depends on what you do, how you are recovering, and what your employer can accommodate. Our page on returning to work after cardiac arrest covers your rights, what reasonable adjustments look like in practice, and how to approach the conversation with your employer.
Financial support is available for many survivors during recovery. If you are unable to work, our benefits page outlines what you may be entitled to and how to access it.
Travelling raises questions about insurance, flying, and what to declare. Our travelling after cardiac arrest page addresses the most common concerns.
If you cannot find an answer to a practical question on our site, our FAQ section covers hundreds of questions raised by survivors and their families over the years.
Who can I talk to?
This is often the question that matters most.
Cardiac arrest is relatively rare. The chances are that nobody in your immediate circle, whether that is family, close friends, or your GP, has been through what you have been through. That can make even the most well-intentioned support feel slightly short. People want to help, but they do not always know what to say. Sometimes their relief that you survived can make your own more complicated feelings harder to express.
Our community is made up of thousands of survivors and co-survivors across the UK who understand, because they have been there too. There are people who were told their recovery would take years and were back at work in months. People who could not leave the house for weeks, who now live full and active lives. People who are still in the thick of it and who have found that simply knowing they are not alone makes a difference.
There is also professional support available if you need it. Many survivors find that speaking to a therapist or counsellor with experience of trauma or sudden illness makes a significant difference. Our guide to counselling after cardiac arrest explains the options, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and EMDR, both of which have good evidence of effectiveness after trauma. NHS Talking Therapies offers free access to psychological support, including for anxiety and PTSD, without a GP referral in most areas. Mind also has a helpline if you need to talk to someone today.
The main place our community gathers is the SCA UK Facebook group. It is a private group, which means only members can see what is posted inside it. Joining involves answering a couple of short questions to ensure new members are in the right place. We are all volunteers, so it typically takes up to 24 hours for requests to be approved. Once you are in, introduce yourself when you feel ready. There is no pressure to share more than you want to.
If you are not a Facebook user or if you would prefer to speak to someone directly before joining a group, please contact us, and we will do our best to point you in the right direction.
We also have a podcast, Life After Cardiac Arrest, which many survivors find helpful. Hearing other people’s experiences, in their own words, can be one of the most powerful reassurances that what you are going through is understood.
Take your next step
You do not have to work through all of this today.
Start with one page, one question, or one conversation. Come back when you are ready for more. There is no rush, and there is no wrong way to do this. We have been here since 2015, and we will be here whenever you need us.