Sudden Cardiac Death
Among the most serious complications that can be promoted by high blood pressure is undoubtedly sudden cardiac death (SCD) - also referred to as instantaneous cardiac death or Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). In most cases, this is fatal. Only about 2 to 5 percent of those affected reach the hospital alive. However, even here, about half of these patients still die.
Sudden cardiac death is defined as a natural death that has a cardiac cause. A pre-existing heart disease may be known - however, the time and circumstances of death are unexpected. Instantaneous cardiac death is initiated by a sudden loss of consciousness and occurs within one hour after the onset of acute symptoms.
In about half of the cases, some symptoms can be noticed hours, sometimes even days or weeks in advance. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, altered consciousness up to fainting, or palpitations. Many (the other 50 percent) of the cases, however, do not announce themselves beforehand.
In about half of the cases, some symptoms can be noticed hours, sometimes even days or weeks in advance. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, altered consciousness up to fainting, or palpitations. Many (the other 50 percent) of the cases, however, do not announce themselves beforehand.
What happens?
In all cases of sudden cardiac death, there is a change in the electrical properties of the heart muscle cells, which leads to sudden cardiac death through arrhythmias, an electromechanical dissociation, or immediate asystole (cardiac arrest).
Typically, three factors are needed for this:
- a structural heart disease,
- a temporary trigger, and
- an arrhythmia mechanism.
In 10 to 15 percent, there is a heart muscle disease that is not due to CAD.
The remaining cases are due to other, rare causes.
Temporary triggers can include electrolyte changes (changes in blood salts), oxygen deprivation, drugs, an electrical accident, but also stress or a strong vagotonic reaction or vagus irritation, and the like.
Arrhythmia mechanisms refer to errors or problems in the heart's conduction system that disrupt the regular action of the heart.
Often, the cardiac event begins with a ventricular tachycardia. This means that one or both heart chambers beat too quickly, which then transitions into ventricular fibrillation. The heart is then unable to pump blood into the circulation. Thus, no oxygen is transported to the cells. As a result, asystole occurs: the heart stops. In rarer cases, asystole develops from bradycardia - a too-slow heart rate.
What to do?
The immediate call to emergency services at 112 - preferably, if you can recognize this, with the indication that the patient needs to be resuscitated - is the first measure. To give the affected person a chance of survival, immediate initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is necessary. If available, the use of an AED (layperson defibrillator) can drastically increase the chance of survival. However, it does not replace cardiopulmonary resuscitation but is a tool that can restore a normal heart rhythm. The emergency control center can provide you with telephone assistance for these measures until the rescue service arrives on site.
Sources:
By Sabine Croci.
This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (01/2024).
Information on the website and within the app cannot replace a consultation with a doctor, but can certainly complement it.
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