Definition

Scope

• Heart disease claims approximately 1 million lives each year and is an equal opportunity killer of both men and women.
• Every 33 seconds someone in the United States dies from cardiovascular disease which is roughly the equivalent of a September 11th-like tragedy repeating itself every 24 hours, 365 days a year.
• More die of heart disease than of AIDS and all cancers combined.
• Although heart disease is the number one cause of death of American women, only 13% of American women view heart disease as a health threat
• 250,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac death each year - 680 every day of the year.
• 4 out of every 10 individuals who experience a heart attack or sudden death from coronary artery disease have NO prior symptoms or warning signs.
• Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) represents almost one half of the 530,000 annual U.S. deaths due to coronary heart disease.
• More than 60 million Americans - one in five - have one or more heart and blood vessel diseases, putting them at risk for Sudden Cardiac Death.
• One-half of the victims of Sudden Cardiac Death are under the age of 65
• Of all deaths under the age of 50, 25% are due to Sudden Cardiac Death

Causes

• An acute or previous heart attack (myocardial infarction) due to blockage of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Certain forms of defective heart valve
• Diseases of heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) and congestive heart failure

How to Recognize Sudden Cardiac Death

• Sudden loss of responsiveness
• No response to gentle shaking
• Irregular breathing - victim does not take a normal breath when you check for several seconds
• No signs of circulation
• No movement or coughing

Possible Symptoms Preceding Sudden Cardiac Death

• Chest discomfort: most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
• Discomfort in other parts of the upper body: symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath: This feeling can precede or accompany chest discomfort.
• Other signs: These can include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
• Other symptoms that are more likely to occur in women include: indigestion or gas-like pain or pressure, dizziness, unexplained weakness or fatigue, discomfort between the shoulder blades, and/or a sense of impending doom. Click here for more information about Heart Disease and Women.

Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease

• A family history of heart disease, including hypertension (high blood pressure), congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes
• Sedentary lifestyle, no regular exercise
• High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and/or low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol
• A high-fat diet
• High blood pressure - 25% of all adults have high blood pressure, and one third of them don't know it
• Obesity - more than 30% overweight
• Diabetes
• Smoking

Reducing Your Risk

• Adopt a healthy, low-saturated-fat diet enriched with fatty fish, fruits, vegetables and legumes
• Stop smoking or don't start
• Exercise regularly and maintain a normal body weight
• Maintain low blood pressure and cholesterol level
• Avoid excessive stress and negative emotions, such as anger and hostility
• If you have two or more risk factors for coronary artery disease, consult your physician about screening tests that can detect early onset of coronary artery disease - for instance, the electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) test.

Helping a Victim of Sudden Cardiac Death

• Know the warning signs
• There is a chance of reviving the victim within the first 5 to 7 minutes, so don't hesitate!
• Call 911 IMMEDIATELY
• Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) IMMEDIATELY. This can keep the victim alive until emergency help arrives.
• If there is an automatic external defibrillator (AED) available, utilize it as the directions indicate. Many public places such as airports have AEDs available.