Every week, four to eight apparently fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions.

These events, referred to as “sudden death syndrome” are defined as non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected occurrences resulting from sudden cardiac arrest within as little as six hours of previously witnessed normal health.

Often they are the result of conditions including thickening or abnormal structure of the heart muscle and irregularities of the electrical impulses that upset the natural rhythm of the heart.

The majority of young sudden deaths are due to inherited forms of heart muscle disorder and irregular heart beat.  Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most common of these.

It’s a disease that interrupts vital electrical signals that keep the heart beating.

There are many reasons and medical conditions that can lead to Sudden Death Syndrome – but for those fortunate enough to be diagnosed early, it does not have to become a reality.

Finding the cause of the heart problem is essential.  This is where medical technology steps in.

Although there is no know cure for HCM the are interventional techniques and procedures now available to reduce the risk of an Sudden Death event – as a charity, and part of the Medical Technology Group, Cardiac Risk in the Young – CRY – is campaigning for ready access to these treatments.

Battery powered pacemakers and ICD s (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators) are options fir treatment in young people – provided they are diagnosed in time.  Medical technologies can help here too – advanced heart screening and monitoring techniques have been developed which can show an accurate picture of the heart.

In the past, ICD implants were performed under general anaesthetic; however many centres now implant these devices using a combination of local anaesthetics and intravenous sedation.  Most patients can be home 24-48 hours after implantation following post-implantation device function checks.  Patients are usually followed up at 4-6 week post-implant, then 3-6 monthly intervals.

At each follow up visit the device and its memory are interrogated and standard pacing and sensing tests are performed.  Details of any stored arrhythmic events are downloaded and printed, and correlated with symptoms.

Many young people are alive today thanks to the technology developed in this area.  We must ensure that all young people affected by cardiac conditions are given the opportunity for diagnosis, referral and the right treatment options.