What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is when a person’s heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is usually fatal. There are many inherited conditions that are known to cause SCA. These may involve abnormal heart and vessel structure, and/or abnormal heart rhythm. Sometimes it is not possible to identify the cause of a SCA. Most SCAs are the first obvious symptom a person has, although family members, in retrospect, may remember the victim complaining of warning signs such as irregular heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sudden nausea, or unusual fatigue. Individuals with a family history of sudden cardiac arrest may have an inherited condition that puts them at risk of sudden cardiac arrest. A doctor’s evaluation of personal and family history is the best way to begin to identify and treat those at risk.

A person having a SCA needs immediate treatment, following the American Heart Association’s “Chain of Survival.” This includes early recognition of SCA, early call to 9-1-1, early CPR, early use of AED, and early EMS advanced life support.

Every minute that passes without intervention drastically reduces the chance of survival!

Suggested personal and family history questions from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

1. Have you ever passed out or nearly passed out during or after exercise?
2. Have you ever had discomfort, pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest during exercise?
3. Does your heart ever race, flutter in your chest, or skip beats (irregular beats) during exercise?
4. Has a doctor ever told you that you have any heart problems?
5. Has a doctor ever requested a test for you heart? For example, electrocardiography (ECG)
   or echocardiography.
6. Do you get lightheaded or feel shorter of breath than expected during exercise?
7. Have you ever had a seizure?
8. Has any family member or relative died of heart problems or had any unexpected or unexplained sudden death before age 35 years (including drowning or unexplained car crash)?
9. Does anyone in your family have a genetic heart problem such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), Marfan syndrome, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), long QT syndrome (LQTS), short QT syndrome (SQTS), Brugada syndrome, or catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT)?
10. Has anyone in your family had a pacemaker or an implanted defibrillator before age 35?

PPE: Preparticipation Physical Evaluation. 5th ed., American Academy of Pediatrics, 2019. 

For more information about SCA and SCDY, please see the following resources:

• “Can Sudden Cardiac Death of the Young Be Prevented? A Michigan Story on Lessons Learned and Action Steps to Take.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC)
• National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
• American Heart Association
• CDC podcast: How to help someone who is having a sudden cardiac arrest
• AHA – Difference between sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack

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