Are you aware of Sudden Cardiac Death?

You may have heard that someone who was healthy, who had no illness or suffering, suddenly passed away. Sometimes we may have seen in the newspaper that a sportsperson collapsed on the field and died. It really shocks us when we hear such things, doesn't it? Most of the time, the cause of such sudden deaths is a heart problem. Today, let's talk about this condition called `Sudden Cardiac Death` (SCD) . Although this is a really dangerous thing, it is very important to be aware of it.

What exactly is Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)?

Simply put, `Sudden Cardiac Death` (SCD) is a sudden, unexpected death that occurs within a short period of time, such as an hour, due to some problem with the heart. This happens when the heart suddenly stops, that is, when a `Cardiac Arrest` occurs. Think of it, the heart is like the engine of our body. What happens here is as if this engine suddenly stops working.

What happens when the heart stops? The heart pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout our body. If the heart stops, the brain and other vital organs do not receive oxygen. Without oxygen, these organs cannot function and cannot survive. Therefore, if help is not received quickly and the heart does not start working again, it can end in death. That is what we call `Sudden Cardiac Death`.

But here's something important to remember. If you start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) as soon as someone has a cardiac arrest, that is, when their heart stops beating, you can double or triple the chance of saving their life. That's why it's so important to know about CPR.

How common is this condition called `SCD`?

This is actually a bit scary. SCD is the leading cause of death from natural causes in countries like the United States. It accounts for half of all deaths from heart disease.

According to statistics, more than 3.5 million people in the United States alone suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year. The sad thing is, even if they receive treatment from ambulance services, only a small number, about 10%, survive.

Another thing is that men are twice as likely to develop SCD as women. But it is much less common in young children. Only one or two children per 100,000 live births per year.

Are there any warning signs before sudden cardiac death?

Yes, sometimes there are symptoms that can appear hours, days, or even weeks before an SCD occurs. If you pay attention to these, you may be able to avoid a serious accident. If you have these symptoms, you should seek medical advice immediately .

• Abnormal vital signs : This means abnormal changes in things like pulse rate and blood pressure.
• Heart attack symptoms : Things like chest pain, tightness, and pain radiating down the left arm.
• Severe infections like `Sepsis`: A condition caused by a severe infection in the body.
• Fatigue : Feeling extremely tired for no reason.
• Shortness of breath : Feeling suffocated even with a little movement.
• Chest pain : This is the main symptom that most people are familiar with.
• Fainting: A sudden loss of consciousness and falling.
• Heart palpitations: A feeling of the heart beating rapidly, a pounding sound in the chest.

If you or someone you know has one or more of these symptoms, don't take it lightly. See a doctor as soon as possible.

What causes this `SCD`?

The main cause of `SCD` is coronary artery disease . Simply put, it is the blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) by fatty deposits. This prevents the heart from receiving enough blood.

SCD in people under 35 years of age is often caused by an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) . This is a problem with the rhythm of the heart. This can be caused by congenital heart issues or genetic conditions that affect the electrical system of the heart.

You may have noticed that professional athletes are routinely screened for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a thickening of the heart muscle, especially the heart muscle cells), which is a leading cause of SCD in that age group. However, SCD is very rare in athletes (between one and six cases per 100,000 athletes under the age of 35).

The cause of SCD in people over 35 years of age is often the same as the previously mentioned Coronary Artery Disease.

In addition to these two main causes, there are several other causes of `SCD`. They are:

• Cardiomyopathy from Alcohol Use Disorder.
• Obesity .
• Genetic diseases of the heart muscle, for example the previously mentioned `Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy` and `Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy` .

What are the risk factors for SCD?

There are many risk factors for developing SCD. This risk increases with age, if you are male, and if you have certain genetic heart diseases (e.g., Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy).

The two main risk factors are:

• Having had a previous heart attack: The risk of SCD is higher after a heart attack.
• Coronary Artery Disease: Other risk factors that affect this include smoking, a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol levels, and an enlarged heart.

In addition to this, there are other risk factors:

• Having previously had a `Sudden Cardiac Arrest`.
• Someone in the family has had `Sudden Cardiac Arrest` or `SCD`.
• You or someone in your family has certain abnormal heart rhythms (`Arrhythmia`). For example, conditions like `Long QT Syndrome` , `Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome` and `Ventricular Tachycardia` .
• The occurrence of `Ventricular Tachycardia` or `Ventricular Fibrillation` after a heart attack.
• Having congenital heart issues or blood vessel abnormalities.
• Having a history of frequent syncope for no apparent reason.
• Heart Failure : This means that the heart's ability to pump blood is weaker than normal. People with Heart Failure are six to nine times more likely to develop Ventricular Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat of the heart cells) and suffer from Sudden Cardiac Arrest than others.
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy (enlarged and weakened heart muscle): This is the cause of about 10% of SCDs. Scarring and damage to the heart muscle increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. This can also lead to heart failure.
• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart muscle).
• Significant changes in blood potassium and magnesium levels.
• Obesity .
• Diabetes .
• Having a history of drug use or taking medications that affect the heart rate.

If you have one or more of these risk factors, it is very important to talk to a doctor about ways to reduce your risk.

How do you recognize an `SCD`?

A `SCD` is confirmed by a doctor after confirming that there were no other causes of death. A person may have had `Sudden Cardiac Arrest` and may have `SCD` if they have the following symptoms:

• If I were not breathing.
• If the pulse doesn't drop.
• If there was no consciousness.

What can we do to reduce the risk of SCD?

There are many things we can do to reduce this risk.

• Go to the doctor on time and talk to them about your health.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weight that suits you, exercise, and eat a low-fat diet.
• Avoid all tobacco products completely.
• Whether you have high cholesterol or an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), take the medications prescribed by your doctor.
• If your doctor recommends it, get a device called an `Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator` (`ICD`) . This device detects dangerous heart rhythms and delivers an electrical shock to the heart to restore it to normal.
• Undergo treatments or surgeries recommended by your doctor, such as Angioplasty (opening the heart arteries) or Catheter Ablation (correcting irregular electrical signals in the heart).
• If your doctor recommends it, get genetic testing to see if there are any genetic conditions that could cause SCD.
• Teach your family about the importance of CPR. Inform them about what to do in an emergency.

Competitive athletes should be screened for heart disease at least once a year. This should include a review of their personal and family medical history (which should be updated annually) and a physical exam. If there is anything suspicious during the initial screening, their sports medicine doctor may recommend further testing.

If a doctor suspects you have heart disease, be sure to see a cardiologist.

What is the difference between a heart attack and SCD?

Many people confuse the two. A heart attack is a problem with the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. It usually occurs when a coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart is blocked. In this case, the heart does not stop, it continues to beat, but part of the heart is damaged.

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is death that occurs after the heart stops beating (Cardiac Arrest) and cannot be revived. A cardiac arrest is caused by a problem with the heart's electrical system. While a heart attack can cause SCD, there are other causes of SCD. Simply put, a heart attack is a "supply" problem, and a cardiac arrest is an "electrical" problem.

How quickly can an `SCD` occur?

When a `Cardiac Arrest` occurs, the brain does not receive enough blood flow. This can cause loss of consciousness within seconds. `Sudden Cardiac Death` can occur within minutes. That is why it is considered an emergency.

If a loved one suddenly dies of SCD...

Losing a loved one suddenly can be one of the most difficult experiences in life. It is difficult to bear the pain. However, if your loved one has died due to a genetic heart issue that can affect other family members, it is important to talk to your doctor about it and see if you are at risk. Taking steps now can help protect yourself and your family from another tragic event.

Finally, the most important thing to remember

Although `Sudden Cardiac Death` is a serious condition, the risk can be greatly reduced by being aware of it, identifying and controlling risk factors, and following proper medical advice.

• Take care of your heart. Live a healthy lifestyle.
• Be aware of the warning signs. Don't ignore them.
• If you have heart disease, follow your doctor's instructions exactly.
• Learn CPR. You too can save someone's life.

I hope this information is useful to you. Keep your heart healthy!

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