Sudden Cardiac Death?

For the past few weeks, there were 4 young male victims who had no known health problems or family history of sudden deaths died during sleep. Although actual reasons have not been known, most deaths of this kind were believed to be caused by cardiovascular conditions.

According to cardiologists, the chances of sudden cardiac death are small for healthy persons with no family history of sudden death, congenital heart disease and multiple risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension. It is estimated to be one in 1,000.

Men are more at risk as they are generally more prone to coronary artery disease. There is no well-documented data on sudden death during sleep. But, a French study conducted in 1994 found that one-third of all sudden deaths occur during sleep. Often, victims were not aware that they had congenital or underlying heart conditions such as a blockage in a blood vessel or the heart.

The abnormalities in the heart or brain, if detected early, can be treated with medication, surgery, or devices such as pacemaker. Nevertheless, the best approach is to minimize the chances of developing a heart condition through a balanced diet, regular exercise and strict control of existing conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.