What is Sudden Cardiac Death?
Are you at Risk for Sudden Death?
Knowing Your EF Could Save Your Life.
Sudden Cardiac Death is Preventable.
Are you at Risk for Sudden Death?
Knowing Your EF Could Save Your Life.
Sudden Cardiac Death is Preventable.
Sudden Cardiac Death
What is Sudden Cardiac Death?
Sudden Cardiac Death (or Cardiac Arrest)
refers to the
sudden loss of life generally due to a lethal arrhythmia. People can
die suddenly for a variety of reasons, but heart rhythm problems are
usually the cause. According to the American Heart Association, more
than 680 people experience sudden death each day in the United States.
That is over 250,000 each year. Sudden death is not a heart attack,
although some people with heart attacks may also have a cardiac arrest.
Are You at Risk for Sudden Death?
In general, heart attack survivors are more at risk for sudden death than the general population. Your doctor may help to evaluate your risk for sudden death. However, this simple test can help you to decide.- Do you have congestive heart failure?
- Have you ever had a heart attack?
- Has your doctor ever told you that you have a weak heart?
- Do you have family members who have died suddenly?
Knowing Your Ejection Fraction (EF) Could Save Your Life
Your EF or ejection fraction refers to the amount of blood that is pumped out of the heart with each heartbeat. A normal, healthy heart pumps 55-75% of its blood per beat (an EF of 55-75%). But when a heart pumps only less than 30% of its blood with each beat, then it may indicate enough damage to the heart muscle to increase your risk of heart rhythm problems and even sudden death.Ask your doctor what your ejection fraction is. Your doctor can measure it in a variety of ways, most commonly with a painless test called an echocardiogram.