Former Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha Tuesday evening collapsed at his Nairobi home was taken to the Nairobi Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Prof Magoha, 71, suffered Cardiac arrest and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Prof. Walter Mwanda, Prof Magoha’s friend who is a medical doctor at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), said at the Lee Funeral Home on Tuesday night that he received a call from Dr. Barbara Magoha, the widow of the former Education Cabinet Secretary, informing him that Prof. Magoha needed urgent medical attention.

Mwanda said he rushed to the ex-minister’s Nairobi home, and together with his (Magoha’s) family members, took him to Nairobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

What is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest, sometimes called sudden cardiac arrest, means that your heart suddenly stops beating. This cuts off blood flow to the brain and other organs. 

Cardiac arrest is quick and drastic: You suddenly collapse, lose consciousness, have no pulse, and aren’t breathing. Right before it happens, you could be very tired, dizzy, weak, short of breath, or sick to your stomach. You may pass out or have chest pain. But not always. Cardiac arrest can happen with no warning signs at all.

So what happens when you suffer cardiac arrest?

Your heart has an electrical system that keeps it beating regularly. Cardiac arrest can strike if the electrical signals go haywire and cause an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia.

There are different types of arrhythmias, and most aren’t dangerous. One called ventricular fibrillation triggers cardiac arrest the most. If this happens, the heart can’t pump enough blood to your body. That’s life-threatening within minutes.

Many people who have cardiac arrest also have coronary artery disease. Often, that’s where the trouble starts. Having coronary artery disease means less blood flows into your heart. This can lead to a heart attack that damages your heart’s electrical system.

Cardiac arrest can also happen for other reasons, including:

1. Major blood loss or severe lack of oxygen
2. Intense exercise, if you have heart problems
3. Too high levels of potassium or magnesium, which could lead to a deadly heart rhythm
4. Your genes. You may inherit certain arrhythmias or a tendency to get them.
5. Changes to your heart’s structure. For instance, an enlarged heart or changes caused by an infection.