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’s fast track coroner / pathology service enables the cause of death in a sudden death case to be established more quickly and accurately than might otherwise happen if left to a local coroner lacking expertise in cardiac pathology.
In the context of cardiology, the term SADS refers to Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome. However, the media sometimes refers to SADS as ‘Sudden Adult Death Syndrome’; or use SADS for referring to the more general notion of a sudden death of an apparently fit and healthy young person.
An ICD is a medical device to treat life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities. It consists of a small box containing a battery and electronics that is inserted under the skin and wires that are most commonly passed through the bloodstream into the heart but can also remain under the skin.
CRY’s myheart network provides personalised help, support, and information to individuals between the ages of 12 and 35 who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening cardiac condition.
This booklet is a comprehensive explanation of conditions that can cause a sudden cardiac arrest; tests used to diagnosed and investigate cardiac conditions; drugs to avoid if diagnosed with one of these conditions and lifestyle advice.
Because the channelopathies, cardiomyopathies and Marfan’s may be inherited, if you are a blood relative in the immediate family of someone who has a channelopathy or cardiomyopathy or has died of SADS, it is important that you are evaluated for signs of these diseases. Below, we explain what is involved in the evaluation and describe the tests you may need to have.
CRY has a library of videos of ECG results and abnormalities narrated by CRY Consultant Cardiologist Professor Sanjay Sharma.
In 2008 CRY’s fundraisers facilitated the establishment of the CRY Centre for Cardiac Pathology (CRY CCP) – a centre of excellence for a fast-track expert cardiac pathology service for bereaved families. CRY provides this service, funding the cost of coroners’ referrals, so that families no longer have the ordeal of a protracted wait for the cause of death of their child or partner.
The DVD contains a wealth of information about heart conditions that can cause young sudden cardiac death, in the form of short video clips. In these clips, CRY Consultant Cardiologist Professor Sanjay Sharma gives details about the various cardiac conditions, including possible symptoms (if any), diagnostic techniques and types of treatment available.