Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a
sudden, unexpected death caused by heart function loss (sudden cardiac arrest-
SCA) with most SCDs caused by abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias.
Ventricular fibrillation is the most common life-threatening arrhythmia, which
is an erratic, disorganized firing of impulses from the ventricles (the ticker’s
lower chambers). The heart is unable to pump blood when this occurs and death
will occur within minutes, if left untreated. In the United States, sudden
cardiac death is the largest cause of natural death and is also responsible for
half of all heart disease deaths.
A victim in the middle of a cardiac
arrest would require emergency treatment which includes cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation. CPR procedure combines chest
compressions and rescue breaths that keeps enough oxygen in the lungs and gets
it to the brain until restoration of normal heart rhythm with an electric shock
to the chest (defibrillation). Get trained in the CPR procedure to be able to
efficiently handle out-of-hospital cardiac emergencies. For a CPR certification Nashville, sign up
for a course at the AHA certified CPR Nashville in Tennessee. Courses for both
healthcare providers and general public are offered.
SCA Risk Factors:
Although there are many factors
that increase an individual’s risk of sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac
death, the two leading risk factors include:
Coronary Artery Disease- This disease has been linked to
80 percent of SCD cases. Some risk factors of CAD include smoking, family
history of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol or an enlarged ticker.
Previous Heart Attack- 75 percent of SCD cases are linked to this. An
individual’s risk of SCD is higher during the first six months after a
myocardial infarction.
Some other risk factors include:
1. Previous
SCA episode.
2. Family
history of SCA or SCD.
3. Family or
personal history of certain abnormal heart rhythms including long QT syndrome,
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, extremely low heart rates or heart block.
4. Ventricular
fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia after an episode of myocardial
infarction.
5. History of
congenital heart defects.
6. History of
syncope (episodes of fainting of unknown cause).
7. Dilated
cardiomyopathy which is a decrease in ticker’s ability to pump blood due to an
enlarged (dilated) and weakened left ventricle. In about 10 percent of cases,
this is the cause of SCD.
8. Hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy which is a thickened heart muscle that especially affects the
ventricles.
9. Heart Failure- Individuals with HF are 6 to 9
times more likely than the general population to experience ventricular
arrhythmias that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. HF is a condition that
weakens the ticker’s pumping power.
10. Obesity,
diabetes and recreation drug abuse.
11. Taking “pro-arrhythmic”
drugs may increase the risk for life-threatening arrhythmias.
Most SCD cases are related to
undetected cardiovascular disease. SCD is often due to congenital heart defects
in the younger population while in older athletes (35 years and older), the
cause is more often related to coronary artery disease.
AHA recommends cardiovascular
screening for high school as well as collegiate athletes which should be
inclusive of a complete and careful evaluation of the athlete’s personal and
family history and a physical exam. Every two years, screening should be
repeated. Women aged 50 and men aged 40 and older should also have an exercise
stress test and receive education about cardiac risk factors and symptoms.
Comments
Post a Comment