What does it mean to have sudden cardiac death?

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) occurs when the heart ceases to function, respiration halts, and awareness is lost simultaneously due to a significant disruption in the heart’s electrical circuitry. At our heart hospital in Adyar, Chennai, we often explain that a blocked artery causes a heart attack, whereas SCD happens when the heart’s rhythm is off (arrhythmia), which stops it from pumping blood properly.

It can happen to people who already have heart disease or to those who have never had any symptoms before. This is the most common cause of mortality around the world.

Signs of Sudden Cardiac Death

SCD usually happens without notice, although in rare circumstances, signs may show up just before it happens:

• Pain or pressure in the chest
• Breathing problems
• A fast or uneven heartbeat (palpitations)
• Feeling dizzy or fainting (syncope)

When someone gets cardiac arrest, they fall, stop breathing, and lose consciousness. Death happens within minutes if nothing is done right away.

Reasons and Risk Factors

Several heart disorders can lead to sudden cardiac death:

• Coronary artery disease (the obstruction or narrowing of the coronary arteries)
• Previous heart attack (scar tissue interfering with electrical signals)
• Cardiomyopathy (heart muscle that is weak or thick)
• Long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome are examples of genetic arrhythmia syndromes.
• Heart failure or a poor ejection fraction
• Ventricular fibrillation is a cardiac rhythm that is uncontrolled.

Risk factors include smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, family history of sudden cardiac death, and age over 35. Regular cardiac health checkups help detect these early and lower the risk.

How Sudden Cardiac Death Is Diagnosed

The main goal of diagnosis is to check the health of the heart and identify any risks of arrhythmia. Doctors might use:

• A physical exam to look for evidence of heart failure, heart sounds, and blood pressure
• An electrocardiogram (ECG) to look for strange rhythms
• Echocardiogram to look at how the heart is built and how it works
• Stress tests to see how the heart reacts when you work out
• Holter monitoring to keep track of the heart’s rhythm all the time
• Genetic testing for inherited syndromes

Management & Treatment Options

Responding to an emergency

Immediate care is very important:

• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maintains blood flowing until aid comes.
• A heart can be restored to a normal rhythm with the use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator).

Long-Term Management

To stop it from happening again, doctors may suggest:

• Medicines (beta-blockers, anti-arrhythmic medicines)
• Changes to your lifestyle (diet, exercise, quitting smoking)
• A life-saving implantable defibrillator (ICD) for high-risk patients
• Angioplasty or bypass surgery to open up blocked arteries

Consult the best cardiologist in Adyar for personalized treatment and guidance.

When is surgery needed?

If structural abnormalities are making the risk of SCD higher, surgery may be a possibility.

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to enhance blood flow
• Surgical ablation for certain arrhythmias
• Putting in a device (ICD or pacemaker)

Living with the risk of sudden cardiac death

Long-term self-care is very important for people who already have heart disease or are at risk of developing it:

• Regular checkups and follow-up tests for the heart
• Adhering to a heart-healthy diet (minimal salt and cholesterol intake)
• Doing safe, doctor-approved physical activity
• Managing stress and getting enough sleep
• Making sure that family members know how to give CPR

Conclusion

Sudden Cardiac Death is one of the most devastating heart problems, and it can happen without warning. Knowing what causes it, spotting early signs, and intervening immediately can save lives. If you or someone close is at risk for heart disease, consult your physician about prevention strategies and schedule regular cardiac checkups. And don’t forget that understanding CPR and how to use an AED could save someone’s life.

Call Now or Schedule Appointment.