Sudden Cardiac Death - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Creator: Dr. Shaqra Ekram
Published: 2022-12-14T17:41:32

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Sudden cardiac death occurs when the heart suddenly fails to function. This article is a brief overview of sudden cardiac death.

Written by

Dr. Shaqra Ekram

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Isaac Gana

December 14, 2022

December 28, 2022

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Contents

How Is Sudden Cardiac Death Different From a Heart Attack?
What Are the Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death?
What Are the Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Death?
How Is Sudden Cardiac Death Diagnosed?
How to Treat Sudden Cardiac Death?

Introduction

SCD or sudden cardiac death occurs when the heart fails to function normally all of a sudden, thus depriving the body of the essential blood supply. Sudden cardiac death occurs when the heart is stopped suddenly and cannot pump blood anymore. As a result, the entire body is deprived of blood and oxygen, especially the brain. The two immediate effects of sudden cardiac death are no pulse and no breathing.

Sudden cardiac death is a consequential condition of the heart. The word arrest means to halt or stop abruptly. The same happens in sudden cardiac death; the heart suddenly stops beating. In some terminologies, it is also referred to as sudden cardiac death. The heart beats on controlled electrical impulses. When these impulses are altered, the heartbeat parallelly is changed. This change in the impulse is called arrhythmia. Sometimes the arrhythmias are fast, and sometimes they are very slow. Sudden cardiac death occurs when this electrical impulse stops. Sudden cardiac death can cause disability or even death. One must seek emergency health assistance as soon as possible as a result can be fatal.

How Is Sudden Cardiac Death Different From a Heart Attack?

A heart attack is a myocardial infarction, which is not the same as sudden cardiac death. A heart attack occurs when there is the presence of a blockage in one of the coronary arteries or more than one. This blockage prevents the heart and the cardiovascular system from getting a sufficient amount of oxygenated blood. If the heart is deprived of oxygen-rich blood, the muscles and structure of the heart get damaged. This damage leads to a heart attack.

On the other hand, sudden cardiac death occurs when the heart’s electrical system becomes irregular or abruptly stops functioning. It may also happen that the electrical signals cause the heart to beat dangerously fast, so much so that the person may lose consciousness. If emergency treatment is not followed in the case of sudden cardiac death, the patient generally does not survive.

What Are the Causes of Sudden Cardiac Death?

There may be many underlying causes of sudden cardiac death, most of which are related to the cardiovascular system. An abnormal rhythm of the heart, referred to as ventricular fibrillation or VF, is one of the most common reasons that lead to sudden cardiac death. Ventricular fibrillation occurs when the electrical impulses to the heart become so disordered that it leads to the heart-stopping, working, and pumping blood. In short, the heart fibrillates.

Some of the other causes of sudden cardiac death are the following:

Coronary heart disease.
Heart attack.
Cardiomyopathy.
Congenital heart disease.
Heart valve disease.
Myocarditis.
Overdose of a particular medication.
Drug toxicity.
Hypovolaemic shock.
A drastic drop in the oxygen levels of the body.
Atrial fibrillation.
Obesity.
Substance abuse.
Brugada syndrome.
Altered heart medications.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Long QT syndrome.
Scarring of the heart tissue.

What Are the Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Death?

In case sudden cardiac death is not treated promptly, death is possible. However, there are great chances of survival if the signs and symptoms are known, and on the spot, medical aid is provided. It should be noted that sudden cardiac death may not show any symptoms before it occurs, adding to another reason for it being an immensely critical emergency.

Signs of sudden cardiac death are generally drastic and include the following mentioned below.

Sudden loss of consciousness.
No pulse.
Not able to breathe.
Sudden collapse.
Discomfort in the chest.
Weakness.
Palpitations.
Fluttering feeling in the chest.
Pounding of the heart.
Rapid heartbeat.
Irregular heartbeat.
Wheezing.
Shortness of breath.
Dizziness.
Lightheaded.
Abnormal breathing patterns.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Fatigue.

How Is Sudden Cardiac Death Diagnosed?

In the event of a severe heart attack or a sudden cardiac death, seeking medical attention is mandatory. This, in turn, helps diagnose the condition or any underlying trigger factor. The main aim of the diagnosis will be first to find a way to return the blood flow to the brain initially and then to other parts of the body.

Electrocardiograms are used to recognize the kind of abnormality in the heart’s function or the heart rhythm. Some other tests can help diagnose a sudden cardiac death. Still, these will be done only after the event is addressed- blood tests to measure the levels of magnesium and potassium and x-rays of the chest for any other signs of a hidden cardiovascular condition.

How to Treat Sudden Cardiac Death?

Medical treatment for sudden cardiac death aims to get the flow of blood back into your heart and the body. The healthcare provider will most probably take the help of a device called a defibrillator that gives the heart a shock. This electric shock gets the heart rhythm immediately back on the right track. CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an alternative way for the emergency management of sudden cardiac death. These treatments get the heart to beat at an average pace once again. Post surviving an episode of sudden cardiac death.

The healthcare professional may suggest the following:

Prescription drugs to control blood pressure.
Medications to limit cholesterol levels.
Changes in the diet, such as reducing sodium intake.
Regular exercises for maintaining the fitness of the heart muscles.
A bypass surgery.
Surgery to repair the damaged heart structures.

Conclusion

Sudden cardiac death, or SCD, occurs when the heart stops functioning, and the oxygen and blood flow are blocked to the brain and other vital organs. This can cause long-term damage and may even result in death. A heart attack is different from an episode of sudden cardiac death. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, a heart attack and a sudden cardiac death generally lead to irreversible complications.

Thus, emergency treatment is a must for both cases. The most successful line of treatment is that which is done on the spot or within a matter of a few minutes. In the long run, finding out the reason for the episode of sudden cardiac death is necessary after consultation with a healthcare professional, specifically a cardiologist. A healthy and active lifestyle and a balanced heart-healthy diet are vital factors in keeping severe cardiovascular events such as sudden cardiac death at bay.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Happens During Sudden Cardiac Death?

Sudden cardiac death is a condition where the heartbeat stops suddenly. When the heartbeat stops, the heart stops functioning, and blood supply to various vital organs is hampered, including the brain and other organs. In most cases, sudden cardiac death leads to the death of an individual, but immediate medical interference with defibrillators may increase the survival rate.

2. What Does Sudden Cardiac Death Feel Like?

Most people with sudden cardiac death, especially men, feel chest pain as the primary symptom, females have difficulty in breathing, and some may also experience dizziness or unconsciousness.

3. Are There Warning Signs of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Warning signs appear two weeks before the cardiac death. The men experience chest pain, and the women experience shortness of breath. Unexplained fatigue, fainting, and a rapid heartbeat can also be warning signs of cardiac death.

4. Can Sudden Cardiac Death Be Painful?

Pain can be experienced a few seconds before cardiac death. But once the consciousness is lost, the person may not feel any pain. People may experience severe discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for a few minutes.

5. How Long Does Sudden Cardiac Death Take?

Sudden cardiac death is an unexpected natural death caused by sudden stoppage of the heart. Death occurs very fast after the onset of symptoms, and death may occur in less than an hour after the onset of symptoms.

6. Does Sudden Cardiac Death Show on Autopsy?

Autopsy reveals sudden cardiac death although sudden cardiac deaths may be assessed clinically, an autopsy may also reveal sudden cardiac deaths where the exact cause of death is not known. In addition, the autopsy also helps to find out any blocks or blood clots in the blood vessels, and arrhythmias are also detected.

7. Can You Be Revived From Sudden Cardiac Death?

Sudden cardiac deaths can be revived if there is a medical intervention immediately. Medical first aid includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR, and automated electronic defibrillators may also help to save the affected individual from sudden death. Very quick and prompt treatment is required to prevent death.

8. What Is the Survival Rate of Sudden Cardiac Death?

Cardiac arrest leads to sudden deaths with a very poor survival rate that reports only 12% of cases to survive death. Cardiac death has become very common in recent days; around 3,50,000 cases are reported annually, mostly outside the hospital. The survival rate can be improved if the medical intervention is done immediately.

9. Does Sudden Cardiac Death Run in Families?

The most important cause of sudden cardiac death in young individuals is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This familial disease runs in families by an unknown cause leading to left ventricular hypertrophy. The condition is caused by the mutation in genes encoding the protein part of the cardiac sarcomere.

10. How Rare Is Sudden Cardiac Death?

Cardiac deaths are commonly seen in older adults and in young athletes, especially in people with heart diseases. One in 50,000 to 1 in 80,000 young athletes die due to cardiac arrest every year. Cardiac death has become a common cause of death in recent days.

11. What Is the Sudden Loss of Heart Function?

Sudden loss of heart function is caused by improper or irregular rhythms called arrhythmias. The irregular heartbeats lead to loss of consciousness, discomfort, shortness of breath, and immediate death .CPR and automated electronic defibrillators may help to prevent deaths.

12. Can Heart Failure Happen Randomly?

Yes, acute heart failure happens suddenly, whereas chronic one is an ongoing one. The main sign and symptoms is shortness of breath during active periods or while lying down. And for all fatigue and weakness is common.

13. Is Heart Failure a Sudden Death?

Sudden cardiac death is a condition where the heartbeat stops suddenly. When the heartbeat stops, the heart stops functioning, and blood supply to various vital organs is hampered, including the brain and other organs. In most cases, sudden cardiac death leads to the death of an individual, but immediate medical interference with defibrillators may increase the survival rate.

14. What Can Trigger a Heart Failure?

Various factors trigger heart failures, such as genetic factors, and underlying heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease, and irregular heartbeats, may also trigger heart failure. Lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and obesity may also increase the risk of heart failure.

15. What Does Advanced Heart Failure Feel Like?

Advanced heart failure has chest pain, discomfort in the center or left side of the chest, shortness of breath, and coughing up white or pink foamy mucus. Fainting, severe irregular heartbeats and weakness are advanced heart failure symptoms that lead to an individual's death.

Sources

Dr. Isaac Gana

Cardiology

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