Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS)
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Causes
Causes of SADS in young individuals are long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Definition
SADS is a medical term used to explain unexpected death because of cardiac arrest caused by arrhythmia. Around 300,000 people die from SADS every year in the US.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Diagnosis
ECG is the most common way to diagnose SADS among all children and young adults. Another test used is the exercise test which is a low-level test that is used to allow individuals to exercise for about 10 or more minutes without reaching a heart rate more than 150-160 beats per minute.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Symptoms and Signs
The most usual symptoms are sudden loss of consciousness or sudden death which usually happens during physical activities or emotional stress.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS) Treatment
The core of therapy is beta blocker medications for most of the patients. It is known that this medication is 90% effective. There are other medications that the physician can suggest aside from the beta blocker medication. In cases wherein the patient does not respond to the medication a pacemaker is inserted or an automatic defibrillator or cutting nerves surgically in the neck which is referred to as cervico-thoracic sympathectomy.