Causes Of Cardiac Arrest in Young Adults

Imagine the excitement of a young boy eager to make heads turn at his first cricket match. But then, something terrible happens – he becomes completely still and unresponsive - cardiac arrest. Usually, when we hear news about sudden cardiac arrest, we associate it with older people who have heart problems. But surprisingly, it is also one of the main causes of death among young adults. Shocking numbers show that around 1 in every 50,000 to 80,000 young athletes face the risk of a sudden cardiac arrest every year^[1].
In this article, we will take a closer look at why young adults experience cardiac arrest and look at the ways to prevent it.

What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest is a sudden and unpredictable event that occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, leading to an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). This disruption prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood to vital organs such as the brain and lungs. As a result, the affected person loses consciousness and their pulse becomes undetectable. Without prompt medical intervention, death can occur within a matter of minutes.

Signs For Cardiac Arrest

Some of the warning signs of cardiac arrest include –
● Fainting
● Chest pain
● Shortness of breath
● Nausea and vomiting
● Heart palpitations
● Dizziness or light-headedness
● Sudden loss of consciousness/responsiveness

Reasons For Cardiac Arrest At Young Age

The occurrence of sudden cardiac arrest in young adults, specifically those in their mid-30s to mid-40s, has been found to have increased by 13%, as reported in the American Heart Journal ^[2]. This rise can be attributed to several factors, such as a sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, alcohol and smoking habits, and hypertension. If the heart is under a lot of stress or if its tissues get damaged, the risk of sudden death increases.
Sudden cardiac death in young individuals can be caused by certain conditions like –

1️⃣Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

This genetic condition is the main reason for sudden cardiac death in young people. It leads to excessive thickening of the heart muscle, making it difficult for the heart to effectively pump blood, eventually causing rapid heartbeats.

2️⃣Long QT Syndrome

This is a heart rhythm disorder that can cause rapid and irregular heartbeats. Particularly in young individuals, it has been associated with unexplained fainting and sudden death. Long QT syndrome can be either present at birth (congenital) or acquired due to an underlying medical condition or medication.

3️⃣Coronary Artery Abnormalities

Coronary artery abnormalities are conditions where the blood vessels that supply the heart are connected abnormally. This can lead to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, especially during physical activity, and can ultimately result in cardiac arrest.

4️⃣Brugada Syndrome

It is a rare genetic heart condition that disrupts the heart's normal electrical activity. This disruption raises the chances of irregular heart rhythms and sudden cardiac arrest.

5️⃣Blunt Chest Injur

Blunt chest injury, also known as commotio cordis, refers to a hard impact to the chest that can result in sudden cardiac death. This condition can occur when athletes experience a strong blow to the chest from sports equipment or another player. It's important to note that commotio cordis doesn't physically harm the heart muscle, but rather disrupts the heart's electrical signals. If the impact occurs at a precise moment during the signalling cycle, it can trigger a dangerous condition called ventricular fibrillation.

How To Prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

To prevent the risk of sudden cardiac arrests, you can proactively follow these steps –
✅Maintain A Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced diet plays a vital role in keeping your heart and circulatory system healthy. Make sure to include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, fish, and pulses in your meals. It is important to limit your intake of salt, sugar, and fats, including saturated and trans fats. And consuming alcohol should be limited or moderate. When you follow such a proper and balanced diet, you can have control over your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and body weight.
✅Engage in Regular Physical Activity
Devoting at least 30 minutes each day to regular physical activity keeps your heart in good shape. If you can manage at least 60 minutes most days of the week, it helps you maintain a healthy weight. By exercising regularly, you not only keep your weight in check but also enhance the health of your heart, decrease blood pressure, and minimise the likelihood of heart disease and cardiac arrest.
✅Quit Smoking
Smoking harms your blood vessels, raises your blood pressure, decreases the levels of good cholesterol (HDL), and elevates the chances of developing blood clots. By quitting smoking, you can thus significantly decrease the chances of experiencing heart disease and cardiac arrest.
✅Check Your Blood Pressure Levels
High blood pressure often shows no signs, yet it is a major contributor to sudden cardiac arrest. Get your blood pressure regularly checked and monitor your numbers. If your blood pressure is high, you will need to make lifestyle adjustments, such as adopting a healthy diet with less salt and increasing physical activity. In some cases, you may be prescribed medication to manage your blood pressure.
✅Know Your Blood Lipids
Having elevated blood cholesterol and abnormal blood lipids raises the chances of experiencing heart attacks and strokes. Follow a healthy diet and take appropriate medications (if needed) to manage your blood cholesterol levels.
✅Manage Your Diabetes
Having diabetes heightens the chances of developing heart disease and stroke. Keep your blood sugar levels in check by following a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, taking prescribed medications (if required), and monitoring your blood sugar regularly.
✅Handle Stress Effectively
Chronic stress can play a part in raising your blood pressure and elevating the chances of heart disease and stroke. Hence, you can make use of stress-management strategies like exercise, relaxation techniques, hobbies, and social support to assist you in effectively dealing with stress.
✅Get Regular Health Check-ups
Book appointments with your healthcare provider for preventive screenings, monitoring your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other risk factors. By detecting and managing these risk factors early on, you can significantly reduce the chances of experiencing sudden cardiac arrests.

To conclude,

Cardiac arrest in young adults can be caused by various factors such as genetic conditions, lifestyle choices, etc. While these causes can be concerning, you should know that awareness and early detection can make a significant difference. By staying informed and adopting healthy lifestyle practices, you can reduce the risk of cardiac arrest.

Sources:

[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/in-depth/sudden-death/art-20047571 [2] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/preventing-sudden-cardiac-arrest-among-the-youth/articleshow/84822857.cms