Reason behind Shocking Heart Deaths among People in Louisville, KY

Someone in the prime of their life like a professional sports star, teen athlete, marathon runner, or other seemingly healthy person -- isn't supposed to collapse and die from heart disease. But it occasionally happens, which can be attributed to the occurrence of a sudden cardiac arrest. The best way to deal with that is by going for CPR classes. You can sign up for a CPR certification Louisville program at the AHA accredited CPR Louisville which consists of some of the most experienced instructors. In the classes, students will be imparted training in the life-saving procedures comprising of chest compressions and rescue breaths through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. 

The rare nature of sudden cardiac arrest among the young is precisely what makes it so attention-grabbing. 

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest is quite different from a heart attack. A heart attack stems from a circulation or “plumbing,” problem of the heart, it occurs when a sudden blockage in a coronary artery severely reduces or cuts off blood flow to the heart, damaging heart muscle.

In contrast, a sudden cardiac arrest is due to an "electrical" problem in the heart which happens when electrical signals that control the heart's pumping ability essentially short-circuit. Suddenly, the heart may beat dangerously fast, causing the heart's ventricles -- its main pumping chambers -- to quiver or flutter instead of pumping blood in a coordinated fashion. Occurrence of this rhythm disturbance, called ventricular fibrillation, can be attributed to an underlying heart condition that may or may not have been detected. Ventricular fibrillation impedes the heart’s pumping action, thus ceasing blood circulation to the rest of the body. 

The only way that a victim can be revived is with immediate CPR or a shock from an Automated External Defibrillator or else the victim will die within minutes. The connection between heart attack and sudden cardiac death is the fact that heart attack can trigger an electrical malfunction that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. 

Causes of Sudden Cardiac Arrest:

1.      It is heart disease which increases the chances for an individual to get a cardiac arrest or a heart attack. The biggest risk factors of heart disease include high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels. But you may not be aware about the rare heart disorders that can cause sudden cardiac arrest in young people. 

2.      The underlying conditions in young people may include congenital heart disease, inherited diseases of the myocardium (the heart’s muscular tissue), of the electrical system.

3.      Congenital abnormalities of the coronary arteries pose another risk for sudden cardiac arrest.

4.      Other conditions that can trigger sudden cardiac arrest include an inherited electrical disorder of the heart called long QT syndrome; an inflammatory heart condition called acute myocarditis; and Marfan syndrome (Marfan Syndrome is a genetic disorder of the connective tissue that can have fatal cardiovascular effects). 

5.      Some athletes often die after being struck in the chest, a trauma called commotio cordis.

If you come across a victim struck with a sudden cardiac arrest, immediately start administering the life-saving resuscitation procedures or look for an AED device nearby. AED devices should be available in most public places and they are very easy to use. Even if you are untrained, you can just turn on the device and follow the instructions. All of this will help you to stabilize the condition of the victim on your hand.

For attaining proper training, you can sign up for a CPR certification Louisville program at CPR Louisville. For more information, call on 502-804-6132.