Myths about Sudden Cardiac Arrest

We hear alot about the symptoms and facts about SCA however do we hear about the myths of SCA? Sometimes we think we know all we need to know about how to be prepared if SCA should occur but do we really know?

According to the Sudden Cardiac Awareness Foundation - there are 7 basic myths of SCA below:

• Myth No. 1: SCA is rare. Fact: The number of people who die from SCA each day is equivalent to the number who would die if two jet planes crashed every single day killing nearly everyone on board.
• Myth: No. 2: SCA is the same as a heart attack. Fact: When people have heart attacks, they are awake and their hearts are beating. When people have SCA, they are not awake and their hearts are not beating. Heart attack can lead to SCA, but there are also many other causes.
• Myth No. 3: SCA only happens to the elderly. Fact: SCA happens to people of all ages, including more than 6,000 youth under the age of 18 each year.
• Myth No. 4: SCA only happens to people with a history of heart problems. Fact: SCA is often the first indication of a heart problem.
• Myth No. 5: Victims are better off waiting for professional help to arrive. Fact: Time is of the essence. Immediate bystander intervention can mean the difference between life and death.
• Myth No. 6: Only trained personnel are allowed to use AEDs. Fact: AEDs can be used effectively by anyone who can follow visual and voice prompts.
• Myth No. 7: AEDs can hurt people by shocking them inappropriately. Fact: People in cardiac arrest are clinically dead. Your actions can only help. AEDs are safe and effective and will not shock the heart unless shocks are needed to restore a healthy heartbeat.

To read more about the myths of SCA - Click here.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest, also known as SCA?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claims nearly 350,000 lives each year.

During sudden cardiac arrest, heart function stops abruptly and without warning. When this happens the heart is no longer able to pump blood to the brain and throughout the body, and the result is death for 95% of the victims.

SCA and vascular diseases claim more lives than those lost to all forms of cancer combined. This translates to a heart-related death in America every 2 minutes. The adverse impact of heart problems is even bigger taking into account the vast numbers who avert death by having their heart conditions detected and corrected by medical attention. ¹ Every 30 seconds someone dies or is adversely impacted by a heart condition. ³

SCA is the leading cause of death in student athletes. Every year 10,000 young people die from SCA.³  Many appear healthy and have no known family history of heart-related illness. Even though medical tests can detect the presence of heart concerns, insurance companies generally do not cover their costs without the presence of symptoms or a family history of heart problems.

Typically, SCA symptoms are silent until it is too late. As a result, screening is critical to prevention. An echocardiogram can detect the potential for SCA with 99% accuracy and many of the problems detected can be treated or corrected. For this reason it is essential that screening be done at an early age. ¹
Warning signs and symptoms of SCA: ⁴
• Fainting of seizure during or after physical activity
• Fainting or seizure resulting from emotional excitement, distress or startle
• Chest pain or discomfort/ racing heartbeat
• Unexplained fainting or seizures
• Family history of heart disease
• Unusual shortness of breath
• Unusual fatigue/tiredness
• Dizziness/ lightheadedness during or after physical activity
• Family history of unexpected sudden death during physical activity or during a seizure, or any other unexplained sudden death of an otherwise healthy family member under age 50

Consult a physician promptly if you or someone you know has one or more of these signs and/or symptoms

We at Living for Zachary hope to bring this knowledge and awareness to every family.

Let your HEART be heard!

1- Heart Rhythm Society
2- Boston Scientific
3- American Heart Association
4- Parent Heart Watch