Medical information about sudden cardiac death conditions, cardiomyopathy, HCM, HOCUM, ARVC, Long QT syndrome

Medical information

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) is an umbrella term used for the many different causes of cardiac arrest in young people.

CRY provides medical information on the most common causes of unexpected sudden cardiac death sometimes referred to as SADS in the young (under 35)

In the UK unexplained sudden death is frequently recorded as due to death from natural causes. Until the law is changed and coroners have to refer hearts on to specialists we will not know the true figures.

CRY provides medical information on the following conditions:

To download or print out a Word document
covering all of these medical conditions and various
articles click here

For printable file downloads of CRY leaflets
and posters click here

Guidelines in the National Service Framework Chapter 8 on Arrhythmias and Sudden Cardiac Death say that when there is a young sudden cardiac death, all first degree relatives should be urgently assessed.

Young people with cardiac conditions should also receive age-specific treatment and support.

Watch CRY Patron David Walliams have an ECG test

Related Information

Cardiac tests

Descriptions of the various tests used to detect hidden heart problems.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators - ICDs
There is now growing evidence to support the wider use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) as primary treatment.

Coroner / Pathology Section

How CRY is working with Coroners and Pathologists

Inquests

CRY families' experiences of Inquests

Police involvement in unexpected sudden young death
Questions are obviously asked to establish the facts surrounding what has occurred and usually this information goes to assist the Pathologist and finally the Coroner

Launched September 2002 - young people talk about their experiences of heart surgery and living with a rare heart condition

CRY's Surgery Supporters Club

Also:

Animated diagram of some heart rhythm disorders
SADS (sudden arrhythmic death syndrome) booklet by Dr Elijah Behr available to download now from www.sads.org.uk

With special thanks for this Medical Information that has been provided by:

Professor William J McKenna, BA MD FRCP FESC FACC

Dr Sanjay Sharma, BSc (Hons) FRCP (UK) FESC MD

Dr Elijah R Behr, MA MBBS MD MRCP

Dr Sam Firoozi, BSc. MBBS (Hons.) MRCP

Dr Anne Child, MD M Phil

Dr Sandeep Basavarajaiah, MBBS MRCP

Dr Jayesh Makan, BSc MBBS MRCP