Sudden cardiac death
Description
Sudden cardiac death is unexpected sudden death due to a heart condition that leads to the stoppage of the heart. This is often related to a disturbance in the heart rhythm. The unexpected death happens within one hour from the onset of symptoms. About half of all deaths from heart diseases are caused by sudden cardiac death, which is a major cause of death that affects men more than women.
Symptoms
It often happens immediately without warning and includes loss of consciousness, no pulse, and no breathing however, some patients may suffer from other symptoms before this such as:
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Weakness
The Patient should be transferred to the hospital immediately, and should follow up with a Cardiologist afterwards
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View MoreCauses
- Coronary artery disease (The main cause in 80% of cases)
- Heart muscles disease
- Being born with a heart defect
- Genetic heart disease
- Disturbances in heart rhythm
- Valvular heart disease
Risk factors:
- Previous heart attack
- Family history of sudden cardiac death
- Growing older
- Male gender
- Physical inactivity
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High blood cholesterol
- Obesity
- Smoking
Diagnostics
- Physical examination: Loss of consciousness, no pulse, and no breathing.
- Electrocardiogram (a simple test to examine the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart using skin-attached sensors to detect the electrical signals produced by the heart during each beat).
Treatment
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation “CPR”: A life-saving procedure during cardiac arrest, it’s done by chest compressions to make the heart beat again and by giving the patient rescue breaths if needed.
- Defibrillator: A device used to give a high electric shock to the heart in a patient with cardiac arrest to restore a normal heartbeat.
After surviving, the leading cause of sudden cardiac death should be diagnosed and treated.
