Young People & Sudden Cardiac Arrest
In half cases the first sign of something wrong ‘is when they die’ - Chris Semsarian MD
image by: Cardiac Risk in the Young
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Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome: a stealthy killer
So much has been written about death that I hesitate to add my spoonful of experience. It is a leveller, a common denominator, we are automatically signed up for it at birth. And yet its capacity to shock, and hurt, and bereave never diminishes - especially when, according to our hubristic programme, it comes too soon...
Athletes on the sports field, a young girl thrilled by her first kiss, a teenager collapsing on to his birthday cake, a girl on her morning jog, somebody's son at the wheel, waiting for the lights to change - these are among the long roll of stories in the archives of Cry (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
Resources
Cardiac arrests in young people — what causes them and can they be prevented or treated? A heart expert explains
In people aged under 35, there’s no single major cause of cardiac arrest. Some of the conditions that can cause cardiac arrest in young people include...
Better screening could predict and prevent sudden cardiac death in young people
Nearly nine in ten cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in young people are preceded by symptoms, ECG abnormalities or a positive family history, according to a new study. Those findings suggest that expanding cardiac screening beyond competitive athletes could aid in the prevention of SCD in the young population with HCM.
Can Cardiac Screenings Save the Lives of Young Athletes?
An EKG exam could help detect heart disease in young athletes. Or it could send parents down a costly road of expensive follow-up exams that lead nowhere.
Can Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young be Prevented?
Sudden deaths of young athletes bring attention to an important public health problem known as sudden cardiac death of the young (SCDY), which occurs in non-athletes, too.
Dying To Play
Why don’t we prevent more sudden deaths in athletes?
Heart Screening For Teens May Cause More Problems Than It Solves
Dozens of not-for-profit organizations have formed in the past decade to promote free or low-cost heart screenings for teens. The groups often claim such tests save lives by finding abnormalities that might pose a risk of sudden cardiac death.
Should athletes get EKGs to prevent sudden death?
A new study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology suggests a third way: asking questions about personal medical history that do a better job than the AHA questionnaire of identifying those at risk for sudden cardiac death and of clearing those who are not at risk (resulting in fewer false positives), administering an EKG, and (for those at high risk) having a cardiologist interpret it. It skips the physical exam.
Sports Are Rarely to Blame for Cardiac Arrest in Young People
Sports were cited only in a small percentage of cardiac arrests in those aged 5 to 34. By contrast, combinations of obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking—standard cardiovascular risk factors—were found in nearly 60% of cases.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Teenage Athletes: What’s the Risk?
Sudden cardiac arrest is nothing new, but it still gets plenty of attention when it affects a young athlete—usually because it’s so rare, unexpected and tragic,
Sudden Cardiac Arrest in a Young Population: Not So Unpredictable
This study greatly broadens our understanding of the epidemiological characteristics of sudden cardiac death in the young. It is the largest complete assessment of the causes and associations related to SCA in the young. The upper age limit was extended to 45 years, instead of 35 years, to maximize the inclusion of inheritable heart disease.
Sudden cardiac arrest: up to five Australians under 35 die each week
In half cases the first sign of something wrong ‘is when they die’, says cardiologist after death of 27-year-old at City2Surf.
Sudden Cardiac Death In Athletes
There are some conditions that may lead to sudden cardiac death. These conditions include Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Commotio Cordis, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) such as atherosclerosis and anomalous arteries, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPWS), Myocarditis, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia (ARVD), and Long QT Syndrome.
Sudden cardiac death in the young: a genetic destiny?
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the young and the athletes is a devastating event. It occurs unexpectedly in apparently healthy people, often during maximal, vigorous cardiac performance.
Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes
Sudden cardiac death in young athletes continues with alarming frequency. The most common cause of sudden death in the young athlete is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM. Simply put, HCM means the heart muscle is bigger. Many of us believe that bigger muscle means stronger muscle. That is not always the case with the heart.
Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes - Is It Stoppable?
The sudden death of any young person is tragic and often comes as a shock not only to the individual’s immediate family and friends, but also to the affected community.
Sudden Death In Young People: Heart Problems Often Blamed
Sudden death in people younger than 35, often due to undiscovered heart defects or overlooked heart abnormalities, is rare. When these sudden deaths occur, it's often during physical activity, such as playing a sport, and more often occurs in males than in females.
The Scary Side of Sports
Undiagnosed, preexisting heart conditions are typically responsible for sudden cardiac arrest. They may include a structural defect, such as coronary artery abnormalities, or a problem with the heart’s electrical system, like ventricular fibrillation.
When a Heart Risk Runs in the Family
Most doctors consider Long QT syndrome a treatable condition. But people must also exercise caution, such as avoiding taking certain medications that can affect heart rhythm, including antihistamines.
Why Heart Attacks Among Young People are on the Rise
Most people think of heart attacks as a worry only for the elderly — the result of compounding health conditions over a long lifetime. And they’re partially right. It is the result of various health conditions, but age is no longer a factor. Now, 1 in 5 heart attack patients are younger than 40 years of age.
Why You Might Suddenly Die in Your Twenties
An undiagnosed heart condition kills 12 young people every week in the UK. This is how you find out if you have it.
Young and Having a Heart Attack
Readers cite racial and family stressors and skepticism in the emergency room.
Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome: a stealthy killer
Athletes on the sports field, a young girl thrilled by her first kiss, a teenager collapsing on to his birthday cake, a girl on her morning jog, somebody's son at the wheel, waiting for the lights to change - these are among the long roll of stories in the archives of Cry (Cardiac Risk in the Young).
Cardiac Risk in the Young
CRY is a national SADS charity which offers support and information to families who have suffered a loss to SADS.
Canadian SADS Foundation
Established in 1995, The Canadian Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation, a registered Canadian charity, is the only patient advocacy group in Canada dedicated to supporting families affected by inherited cardiac rhythm disorders.
SADS Foundation
The Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation exists to save the lives and support the families of children and young adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm abnormalities.
SADS UK
This website outlines the possible causes of sudden death in young people and children. It concentrates on the medical conditions responsible for a sudden unexpected death where a definite cause cannot be found, even after a postmortem. This is called Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, or SADS.
Aidan’s Heart Foundation
Aidan’s Heart Foundation is committed to providing awareness, education, and support to the communities of the southeast Pennsylvania region and its surrounding area to create heart-safe communities for youth regarding the prevention of and/or response to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation
Student athletes are at a greater risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) because it is 60% more likely to occur during exercise or physical activity. Educating student athletes and parents about the symptoms and risk factors of SCA is one way to help prevent it.
Heart for Athletes
Heart for Athletes has chosen to focus on the most at-risk group. Athletes are up to 3 times more likely than their non-athletic counterparts to suffer from SCA. As the intensity of their training increases, so does their risk of SCA. An athlete with an undetected heart condition may have a 100-fold risk of suffering from SCA.
Parent Heart Watch
Parent Heart Watch is the national voice solely dedicated to protecting youth from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and preventable Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). Parent Heart Watch leads and empowers others by sharing information, educating and advocating for change.
Simon's Heart
Every organization has a story. Ours is no different. It involves a seemingly healthy baby boy named Simon who died in his sleep from an undetected and treatable heart condition. We always thought that sudden cardiac arrest was an adult thing. His death inspired us raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and death. Through a variety of strategic initiatives, we pursue this mission.
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