Prevention

How to Predict and Prevent Sudden Cardiac Deaths?

With sudden cardiac deaths on the rise, young people feel the weight of unfinished goals.

Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) contributes to about 30% of unexplainable sudden deaths; the phenomena of someone dying suddenly and unexpectedly due to a cardiac arrest. The heart stops suddenly, halting breathing and depriving the brain of oxygen. Of course, no one wants to die young!

In this article, I delve into the causes, triggers, and prevention strategies for preserving lives and empowering young people to combat a formidable intruder that hinders their purpose and potential to positively impact the world. I firmly believe that the key lies in acquiring the right information and understanding one’s genetic makeup, limitations, and potential. In the age of artificial intelligence, it would be remiss of us not to take action against preventable disasters in our lives.

As much as 80% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented if we create better infrastructure, expand access to care, rethink the ways we produce and consume food and clean up the air we breathe. — Professor Fausto Pinto, President of the World Heart Federation (WHF)

What causes Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS)?

Normally, your heart’s rhythm, controlling your heartbeat, is managed by electrical impulses. However, when these impulses misfire, they can cause an irregular heartbeat, also known as an arrhythmia. Arrhythmias can be life-threatening if left untreated, potentially resulting in cardiac arrest.

Arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly, usually due to an underlying heart condition affecting the electrical system. Many of the underlying heart conditions leading to arrhythmias are inherited. These conditions include

• Long QT syndrome (LQTS)
• Brugada syndrome
• Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT)
• Progressive cardiac conduction defect (PCCD).

SADS may also be caused by other inherited diseases such as

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)

Thanks to research, we now understand that these conditions are often linked to genetic mutations. Genetic testing, especially cascade testing among family members, helps identify these mutations and assess the risk of inherited heart conditions. In many cases, this is the only way of finding out if someone has an inherited heart condition or if they are at risk of sudden heart attacks.

Mitigating the risk starts with the willingness to acknowledge it.

It is reported that 1 in 3 cases of sudden unexplainable deaths are caused by Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome.

All mitigation strategies begin with acknowledging one’s risk and then gradually narrowing down possibilities to identify specific areas of threat through various screenings and examinations.

The path to a healthier heart is not uniform; what may be beneficial for one individual could be detrimental for another if we fail to grasp these subtleties. This realisation fuels our mission with SugarStrings.ai to develop tailored solutions and prevent unnecessary loss of life.

HEALTH STRING by SugarStrings.ai is an advanced genetic screening product developed with the vision of empowering individuals to identify and address health risks before they escalate. Using DNA sequencing and artificial intelligence helps in determining one’s absolute genetic risks for 105 heart conditions that can lead to a preventable heart attack or sudden death.

Using the results, a physician can assess your genetic risk for arrhythmia or other heart conditions. They can then determine the best treatment options and monitoring methods to personalise your health care as much as possible for optimal health conditions to prevent an unfortunate triggering event.

Awareness of risk factors and preparedness is key to success

The modifiable risk factors to prevent Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) include:

1. Maintaining a healthy weight: Obesity increases the risk of heart disease and arrhythmias.
2. Regular physical activity: Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy heart and reduces the risk of arrhythmias.
3. Healthy diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can reduce the risk of heart disease and arrhythmias.
4. Avoiding tobacco: Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and arrhythmias.
5. Limiting alcohol and caffeine: Excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption can trigger arrhythmias in some individuals.
6. Managing stress: Stress can contribute to heart problems, so stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, or counselling can be beneficial.
7. Genetic Testing: Genetic counsellors guide people facing the reality or prospect of inherited cardiac conditions and suggest steps ahead.
8. Regular medical check-ups: Regular check-ups can help identify and manage any underlying heart conditions that may increase the risk of SADS.

Other modifiable risk factors include physical inactivity, built environment, non-optimal temperature (low/high) and alcohol misuse.

If you experience a fast heart rate, a doctor may suggest vagal manoeuvres to slow down the heart rate. These may include

• Coughing
• Gagging
• Holding your breath while straining
• Soaking your face with cold water

Sometimes treatment of arrhythmia includes medication, surgery and installation of a pacemaker to modulate the heart rhythm. Empower yourself with personalised recommendations for preventive measures, early detection of symptoms and proactive clinical interventions.

Protecting life is one of the noblest actions one can take for oneself and society. Ignorance is not bliss, especially concerning sudden cardiac deaths, which, as the name implies, are sudden and can occur without visible symptoms, striking swiftly and causing irreversible consequences. Thus, prevention is always the best strategy.

Tony Jose
CEO, Co-founder SugarStrings.ai