The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
Male bodybuilders face high risk of sudden cardiac death, especially those who compete professionally
A new study published in the European Heart Journal reveals that sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for a significant number of deaths among male bodybuilders, especially at the professional level. The study found that among 20,286 male bodybuilders who competed between 2005 and 2020, 121 deaths were identified. The average age at death was 45… Read More
People with critical cardiovascular disease may benefit from palliative care
The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued a new scientific statement emphasizing the value of palliative care for individuals with serious cardiovascular disease, including survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving symptoms, easing emotional distress, improving quality of life… Read More
Signs identified that precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people
Key take-aways A retrospective observational study found that 22% of cases of sudden cardiac death were due to sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS). Syncope, seizure-like episodes and changes in electrocardiograms were common signs that preceded SADS. Identifying these signs is important during healthcare visits and also during… Read More
Use of antidepressant medication linked to substantial increase in risk of sudden cardiac death
Key takeaways: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) refers to an unexpected death of a person, believed to be caused by a heart-related issue. It occurs within one hour of the onset of symptoms in witnessed cases or within 24 hours of the person being last seen alive in unwitnessed cases. Patients with psychiatric disorders have double the risk of… Read More
SCA Foundation joins Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium; Free genetic testing available
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation joins Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium (GCAC) The Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Foundation has recently announced its partnership with the Genetic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Consortium (GCAC). This collaboration aims to enhance awareness and understanding of the genetic factors contributing to… Read More
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in apparently healthy, young adults
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in apparently healthy adults younger than 40 years occurs at a rate of 4 to 14 per 100,000 person-years globally. In the US, only about 10% of the estimated 350,000 to 450,000 annual cases survive. Among these young adults, around 60% die before reaching medical care, while 9% to 16% survive to hospital discharge,… Read More
Preventable cardiac deaths during marathons are down, Emory study finds
While more people than ever are running marathons in the U.S., the risk of dying from a heart attack during a run has fallen dramatically in recent years. That’s a key conclusion from a new study by Jonathan Kim, associate professor in the Emory School of Medicine. Kim’s research is a follow-up to a study he published in 2012 — the first… Read More
Survival of athletes after sudden cardiac arrest varies by race
The overall survival rate of athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest has improved over the past decade, but the likelihood of surviving varies by race, where the cardiac arrest occurred and what athletes were doing when they collapsed, according to clinical research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session and… Read More
Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act Reintroduced
This week, Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) reintroduced the Sarah Katz Caffeine Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to increase transparency of caffeine in food and beverages. The bill is named in memory of Sarah Katz, who died in 2022 after consuming an energy drink. The bill introduces a number of new policies on caffeine in beverages,… Read More