When Death Comes Suddenly

Sudden cardiac death is a major health problem. Young men in their prime are falling down after exerting themselves in sports or other strenuous activities. The occurrence of sudden cardiac death is devastating. The American Heart Association (AHA) has implemented the "chain of survival" in order to rescue those who have suffered a cardiac arrest. The chain contains the following:

Early recognition of the Emergency and Activation of Emergency response System. Call 9-1-1 immediately

Early CPR

Early Defibrillation

Early Advanced Care

Sudden cardiac death is defined as death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function. It is also known as sudden arrest. The individual may or may not have had any previous history of heart trouble. The time and act of death are totally unexpected. Death occurs within minutes of the first symptoms. The main reason for sudden cardiac death is coronary heart disease or fatty buildups in the heart arteries that supply the heart with blood.

Any known heart disease can lead to a cardiac arrest and to sudden cardiac death. Rapid electrical impulses or ventricular tachycardia or having chaotic heart beats – ventricular fibrillation or even an irregular heart rhythm – arrhythmia can cause the heart to suddenly stop beating. The heart can also slow down so much that bradycardia occurs.

When young adults succumb to sudden cardiac death it is usually due to heart abnormalities. These young adults usually succumb to sudden cardiac death after releasing adrenaline during intense physical or athletic activity. It is also possible for certain heart medications and other illegal drugs to lead to abnormal heart rhythms that can cause sudden cardiac death.

A massive heart attack or a heart attack is not the same as a sudden cardiac death. An individual can suffer a heart attack and live with the result being damage to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death, but they are not the same thing.

It only takes 4 to 6 minutes after a cardiac arrest for brain death and permanent death to occur. That only gives rescue personnel a few moments to defibrilate the individual or for someone to use CPR on the individual in an effort to restart the heart and to resume breathing.

If the individual survives a cardiac arrest and the arrest was due to ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation they are at risk for another cardiac arrest. These individuals may have tests and treatments performed to correct inadequate blood flow to the heart or to correct arrhythmia.

The treatments and tests that may be offered the cardiac arrest survivor are: balloon angioplasty, antiarrhythmic medication, cardiac catheterization, coronary artery bypass surgery, heart transplant, electrophysiologic tests, implantable pacemaker, implantable cardioverter/defibrillator.

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