20 hours Ago By Ashima Sharda Mahindra
At least 4-5 million people across the world are affected by Sudden Adult Arrhythmic Death Syndrome every year. It describes when someone’s heart stops beating suddenly, mostly without any clear cause. According to experts, it is an inherited issue with your heart’s electrical system, which gives you an abnormal heart rhythm.
Researchers have now identified warning symptoms that commonly appear in the days before SADS strikes—with the hope of catching this unanticipated cardiac event early and preventing premature deaths. “SADS has not been well evaluated despite being one of the most common underlying causes of sudden cardiac death in many young people, including young athletes,” said Dr. Matilda Frisk Torell from Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
“We conducted an analysis of a large cohort of cases of sudden cardiac death to describe the incidence of SADS and to characterise frequent findings that occurred before death to highlight opportunities for prevention,” she added. Related News | What Is Causing Sudden Cardiac Arrest In Youngsters with No Known Health Issues?New AI ECG Analysis Detects Signs Of Deadly Arrhythmia Before It Strikes With 70% AccuracyOne of the more common types of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, Long QT syndrome, happens in an estimated one out of 2,000 newborns. Another type, Brugada syndrome, happens in less than 1 per cent of the population.
Researchers said they looked at nearly a thousand cases of sudden cardiac deaths that occurred in young people aged between one and 36 years in Sweden between 2000 and 2010. They also combed through death certificates, autopsy reports, medical records, electrocardiograms, biological samples, and data from parents. SADS was found to have been the cause of 22 per cent of these sudden cardiac deaths.
Almost two-thirds of the SADS cases—around 64 per cent were male, with an average age of 23. Around half - 52 per cent - of the people who passed away from SADS experienced symptoms beforehand. Related News | Planning A Beach Vacation? Stay Cautious of Irukandji Jellyfish Whose Sting Can Cause Cardiac ArrestImportant warning signs of SADS you must note According to the scientists, the important early warning signs of SADS that you must not ignore include: Palpitations Fainting Nausea and vomiting Signs related to suffering from an infection According to Swedish scientists, around 33 per cent of the SADS patients had previously visited emergency rooms and were hospitalized 180 days before their death.
Fainting episodes were behind 4.2 per cent of SADS sufferers' hospitalisations. What causes SADS? According to doctors, when a young person dies suddenly and their heart has a normal structure, healthcare providers may suspect the child has an undiagnosed arrhythmia.
The conditions that cause arrhythmias are usually passed down from parent to child. The chance of passing on these conditions is variable, depending on the exact gene and exact part of the heart involved. Can you prevent and reduce your risk of SADS? Doctors say apart from recognizing your symptoms early, it is important to know family members who have an automatic external defibrillator or AED at home that can give your loved ones with SADS peace of mind.
Being prepared can allow you to respond if they need help..
