Nation’s Leading Cause of Death Reportedly Claims the Life of a Pop Icon
Pittsburgh, PA--The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation joins countless Americans in grieving the loss of pop icon Michael Jackson. His apparent death from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a painful reminder that SCA is a leading cause of death worldwide.
“While this tragic loss may have been unexpected, sadly, sudden cardiac arrest is not uncommon,” said Bobby Khan, MD, Chairman of the SCA Foundation Board of Directors, Fulbright Scholar, Associate Professor at Emory University and Director of the Coronary Care Unit and Cardiovascular Research at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. “Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to men, women and children of all ages, and for many reasons, African Americans are at even higher risk.”
Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. SCA usually results from an abnormal heart rhythm, often as a result of underlying heart conditions. Unfortunately, for many people, the first symptom of these conditions is SCA, meaning about two-thirds of unexpected cardiac deaths will occur without prior indication of heart disease. Approximately 250,000 people die every year from SCA in the U.S. alone. In fact, more people die each year from SCA than from colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS, firearms, and house fires combined.
For more information about sudden cardiac arrest, including how it differs from the more commonly understood heart attack, as well as the critical links in the Chain of Survival, visit www.sca-aware.org.
About the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)3 organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its mission is to serve as an information clearinghouse and social marketing force focused on raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and stimulating attitudinal and behavioral changes that will help save more lives. Initiatives include an online registry for SCA survivors, an online community for people affected by SCA, an awareness campaign for schools, and the "People Saving People" awards. The SCA Foundation maintains a national database of survivors and experts available to speak with the media. For more information, visit http://www.sca-aware.org
CONTACT:
Carissa B. Caramanis O’Brien
Red Box Communications for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation
Phone: 978-875-2020
Email: carissao@redboxcommunications.com
Twitter: @carissao
http://www.sca-aware.org/sca-newsroom
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