In a continuing effort to bring awareness to
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), we want to take the time to answer some important questions about
SCA.
Is
SCA a heart attack? It is not unusual to hear people equate
SCA with heart attacks; however, the two are very different.
SCA can happen to perfectly healthy people whom are caught off guard. A heart attack can be a trigger for
sudden cardiac arrest, but the two differ in the effects they have on the human body.
SCA leads to death when the ventricles are clogged (not the arteries, like in a heart attack). These ventricles take blood from the heart to the body, and when clogged, little blood escapes leading to brain cells dying rapidly.
SCA couldn’t happen to me, could it? Nearly 200,000 to 300,000 Americans a year die because of
sudden cardiac arrest, many of which live healthy and active lives. This is becoming a more prominent issue in student athletes as well. Many Americans have a gene variation that will go on to be harmless; but in some circumstances this will lead to greater vulnerability for
SCA.
How can I prevent myself from becoming a victim of
SCA? Unfortunately, there is not a proper way to prevent yourself from falling victim to
SCA. However, we encourage that you get tested and see if you are potentially vulnerable to
SCA or any other heart conditions. Victims of
SCA often opt to have automatic defibrillators surgically implanted in order to help regulate heartbeats.
At
Living for Zachary we promote
heart screenings for anyone but especially children from 12-22. People who have
heart disease are at increased risk for
SCA. However, most
SCAs happen in people who appear healthy and have no known
heart disease or other risk factors for
SCA.
Living for Zachary encourages you to call 1-800-4BAYLOR today to schedule a
Living for Zachary screening for your child today!
