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

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Sudden cardiac death is the sudden loss of heart function. This article is a brief overview of sudden cardiac death.

Medically reviewed byDr. Isaac Gana
Published At December 14, 2022
Reviewed AtSeptember 10, 2024

What Is Meant by Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is a sudden cessation of the heartbeat or such a rapid heartbeat that the heart is unable to develop an efficient pumping action. This acute status leads to the collapse and unresponsiveness of a person with no prior warning and may be lethal unless treated forthwith. The heart, during cardiac arrest, is unable to provide a blood supply; thus the organs and body are bereft of this crucial oxygen supply which may lead to the death of the person within minutes. The availability of emergency interventions such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation becomes highly essential. The application of CPR maintains oxygen flow to the lungs and the brain until a normal heart rhythm is restored by defibrillation. The timely application of these treatments may save a life.

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 is a result of a blockage in one or more coronary arteries. The supply of oxygenated blood that is required by the heart and the cardiovascular system gets restricted. If the heart does not get enough oxygen-rich blood, it causes damage to its muscles and structure. This results in a heart attack.

On the other hand, sudden cardiac death occurs when the electrical system of the heart becomes irregular or suddenly 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 can be many underlying causes of sudden cardiac death; most of them are related to the cardiovascular system. The most prevalent reason leading to sudden cardiac death is an abnormal rhythm of the heart, known as ventricular fibrillation or VF. When electrical impulses to the heart become so disordered that it results in the cessation of the heart from working and pumping the blood, it is referred to as ventricular fibrillation. In short, the heart fibrillates. Some of the other causes of sudden cardiac death are as follows:

  • Coronary heart disease.

  • Heart attack.

  • Cardiomyopathy.

  • Congenital heart disease.

  • Heart valve disease.

  • Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle, generally caused by infection or autoimmune reaction).

  • Overdose of a certain drug.

  • Drug toxicity.

  • Hypovolaemic shock (severe loss of blood or fluid leading to poor tissue perfusion).

  • A sudden drop of the body oxygen levels.

  • Atrial fibrillation.

  • Obesity.

  • Abuse of illegal substances.

  • Brugada syndrome.

  • Altered medications of the heart.

  • Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (a condition in which the heart's electrical pathways do not work properly and can cause the heartbeat to become very fast.).

  • Long QT syndrome.

  • Scarring of the heart tissue.

What Are the Symptoms of Sudden Cardiac Death?

If not treated right away, sudden cardiac death may lead to death. However, there are good prospects of survival if the signs and symptoms are recognized well in time and medical assistance is availed on the spot. It needs to be underlined that sudden cardiac death may not show any symptoms beforehand, adding to yet another reason for it being an acutely critical emergency. Signs of sudden cardiac death are usually dramatic and include the following listed 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?

Severe heart attack and sudden cardiac death need medical attention. This will, in turn, help diagnose the condition or any trigger factor that causes the condition. The main aim of the diagnosis is finding a way to return blood flow to the brain and then to the other parts of the body.

Electrocardiograms are done to identify any abnormality in the functioning of the heart or heart rhythm. A few more 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 chest X-rays for any other signs of a hidden cardiovascular condition.

How to Treat Sudden Cardiac Death?

Medical treatment for sudden cardiac death aims to restore the flow of blood within your heart and the body. The healthcare provider will more likely employ a defibrillator device that will shock the heart. In an instant, this electric shock brings back the normal heart rhythm on track. Another alternative is CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation for sudden cardiac death in emergency management. Once more again, these therapies give back the heart its typical rhythm. After a sudden cardiac death incident, the patient may be recommended by the doctor the following.

  • Medications which could control blood pressure.

  • Drugs which could limit the amount of cholesterol.

  • Dietary changes such as avoidance of much salt in use.

  • Exercises are vital for retaining the heart's muscles.

  • A heart bypass.

  • Surgery to correct the defect of the heart.

Is It Possible for Someone to Survive a Cardiac Arrest?

Well, yes, it is; this is relatively rare, though. Most people who have a sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital die from it, and the usual reason for this is that treatment was provided too late. Over the past decade, however, survival rates have been improving. Today, about 11 percent of those suffering out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and receiving emergency medical services survive to be discharged from the hospital. For cardiac arrests occurring within a hospital, about 26 percent of victims survive to be discharged.

Conclusion

Sudden cardiac death is a condition where the heart suddenly stops working, thus blocking the oxygen and blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. This may result in long-term damages to some tissues or even death. A heart attack is different from an episode of sudden cardiac death. A heart attack and sudden cardiac death normally have irreversible complications unless diagnosed and treated early enough.

Thus, both are emergencies that need immediate treatment. The most successful line of treatment is one that is done on the spot or within a matter of a few minutes. In the long term, finding out the reason for the episode of sudden cardiac death is necessary after consultation with a healthcare professional, specifically a cardiologist. It is indispensable to maintain a healthy and active way of life, including a balanced heart-healthy diet, to keep serious cardiovascular events such as sudden cardiac death at bay.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
 
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Dr. Isaac Gana from iCliniq
Dr. Isaac Gana

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