The sudden death





Sudden Cardiac Death

prophet Muhummed says " Among the portents of the hour is the suddend
death "

AHA Scientific Position Sudden death from cardiac arrest is a major
health problem that's received much less publicity than heart attack.
The American Heart Association supports implementing the "chain of
survival" to rescue people who suffer a cardiac arrest in the
community. The adult chain consists of

Early Access to Medical Care (calling 9-1-1 immediately)
Early CPR
Early Defibrillation
Early Advanced Care
What is sudden cardiac death? Sudden cardiac death (also called sudden
arrest) is death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function
(cardiac arrest). The victim may or may not have diagnosed heart
disease. The time and mode of death are unexpected. It occurs within
minutes after symptoms appear. The most common underlying reason for
patients to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease
(fatty buildups in the arteries that supply blood to the heart
muscle). About 335,000 people a year die of coronary heart disease
without being hospitalized or admitted to an emergency room. That's
about half of all deaths from CHD — more than 930 Americans each day.
Most of these are sudden deaths caused by cardiac arrest. What causes
sudden cardiac death? All known heart diseases can lead to cardiac
arrest and sudden cardiac death. Most of the cardiac arrests that lead
to sudden death occur when the electrical impulses in the diseased
heart become rapid (ventricular tachycardia) or chaotic (ventricular
fibrillation) or both. This irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) causes
the heart to suddenly stop beating. Some cardiac arrests are due to
extreme slowing of the heart. This is called bradycardia. In 90
percent of adult victims of sudden cardiac death, two or more major
coronary arteries are narrowed by fatty buildups. Scarring from a
prior heart attack is found in two-thirds of victims. When sudden
death occurs in young adults, other heart abnormalities are more
likely causes. Adrenaline released during intense physical or athletic
activity often acts as a trigger for sudden death when these
abnormalities are present. Under certain conditions, various heart
medications and other drugs — as well as illegal drug abuse — can lead
to abnormal heart rhythms that cause sudden death. The term "massive
heart attack" is often wrongly used in the media to describe sudden
death. The term "heart attack" refers to death of heart muscle tissue
due to the loss of blood supply, not necessarily resulting in a
cardiac arrest or the death of the heart attack victim. A heart attack
may cause cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death, but the terms
aren't synonymous. Can the cardiac arrest that causes sudden death be
reversed? Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just four
to six minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. Cardiac
arrest is reversible in most victims if it's treated within a few
minutes with an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal
heartbeat. This process is called defibrillation. A victim's chances
of survival are reduced by 7 to 10 percent with every minute that
passes without defibrillation. Few attempts at resuscitation succeed
after 10 minutes. If someone becomes unconscious, call 9-1-1
immediately. They may be suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. What
are treatments for survivors? If a cardiac arrest was due to
ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, survivors are at
risk for another arrest, especially if they have underlying heart
disease. Survivors of cardiac arrest must have all causes corrected to
prevent future episodes. Possible causes include myocardial ischemia
(inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle), arrhythmia (abnormal
heart rhythm), etc. Possible tests and treatments include

cardiac catheterization
electrophysiologic tests
coronary artery bypass surgery
balloon angioplasty or PTCA
antiarrhythmic medicine
implantable cardioverter / defibrillator
implantable pacemaker
heart transplant
Eman Altahawy, MSc. Cardiology

Cardiology specialist, Ismailia General Hospital

Ismailia, Egypt

In article
s.com, scribeth thus
The sudden death





Sudden Cardiac Death

prophet Muhummed says " Among the portents of the hour is the suddend
death "

AHA Scientific Position Sudden death from cardiac arrest is a major
health problem that's received much less publicity than heart attack.
The American Heart Association supports implementing the "chain of
survival" to rescue people who suffer a cardiac arrest in the
community. The adult chain consists of

Early Access to Medical Care (calling 9-1-1 immediately)
Early CPR
Early Defibrillation
Early Advanced Care
What is sudden cardiac death? Sudden cardiac death (also called sudden
arrest) is death resulting from an abrupt loss of heart function
(cardiac arrest). The victim may or may not have diagnosed heart
disease. The time and mode of death are unexpected. It occurs within
minutes after symptoms appear. The most common underlying reason for
patients to die suddenly from cardiac arrest is coronary heart disease
(fatty buildups in the arteries that supply blood to the heart
muscle). About 335,000 people a year die of coronary heart disease
without being hospitalized or admitted to an emergency room. That's
about half of all deaths from CHD €” more than 930 Americans each day.
Most of these are sudden deaths caused by cardiac arrest. What causes
sudden cardiac death? All known heart diseases can lead to cardiac
arrest and sudden cardiac death. Most of the cardiac arrests that lead
to sudden death occur when the electrical impulses in the diseased
heart become rapid (ventricular tachycardia) or chaotic (ventricular
fibrillation) or both. This irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) causes
the heart to suddenly stop beating. Some cardiac arrests are due to
extreme slowing of the heart. This is called bradycardia. In 90
percent of adult victims of sudden cardiac death, two or more major
coronary arteries are narrowed by fatty buildups. Scarring from a
prior heart attack is found in two-thirds of victims. When sudden
death occurs in young adults, other heart abnormalities are more
likely causes. Adrenaline released during intense physical or athletic
activity often acts as a trigger for sudden death when these
abnormalities are present. Under certain conditions, various heart
medications and other drugs €” as well as illegal drug abuse €” can lead
to abnormal heart rhythms that cause sudden death. The term "massive
heart attack" is often wrongly used in the media to describe sudden
death. The term "heart attack" refers to death of heart muscle tissue
due to the loss of blood supply, not necessarily resulting in a
cardiac arrest or the death of the heart attack victim. A heart attack
may cause cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death, but the terms
aren't synonymous. Can the cardiac arrest that causes sudden death be
reversed? Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just four
to six minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest. Cardiac
arrest is reversible in most victims if it's treated within a few
minutes with an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal
heartbeat. This process is called defibrillation. A victim's chances
of survival are reduced by 7 to 10 percent with every minute that
passes without defibrillation. Few attempts at resuscitation succeed
after 10 minutes. If someone becomes unconscious, call 9-1-1
immediately. They may be suffering from sudden cardiac arrest. What
are treatments for survivors? If a cardiac arrest was due to
ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, survivors are at
risk for another arrest, especially if they have underlying heart
disease. Survivors of cardiac arrest must have all causes corrected to
prevent future episodes. Possible causes include myocardial ischemia
(inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle), arrhythmia (abnormal
heart rhythm), etc. Possible tests and treatments include

cardiac catheterization
electrophysiologic tests
coronary artery bypass surgery
balloon angioplasty or PTCA
antiarrhythmic medicine
implantable cardioverter / defibrillator
implantable pacemaker
heart transplant
Eman Altahawy, MSc. Cardiology

Cardiology specialist, Ismailia General Hospital

Ismailia, Egypt


Well now thats something useful to know for the new year;!..

And bloody cheerfull...not!...
--
Tony Sayer