Recent cases of sudden deaths in children and young adults have brought to light an unsettling trend: the increasing frequency of heart-related fatalities among younger demographics. These incidents highlight the critical need for greater awareness and preventive measures to safeguard lives.
Key Observations
Rising Incidents Among Children
Recently it was reported that 2 children experienced cardiac arrest-a 14yearold boy suddenly collapsed during sport training, while 8years old girl collapsed while playing in her backyard- pointing to a real need for considering the matter even among children at such early age although we are not aware of exact underlying or medical details.
Youth as well can get affected
Sudden cardiac events have also taken the lives of a 20year old during physical training, a 29 years old man in his sleep, and a person after a morning walk. Such cases show that even young adults who appear to be healthy are not exempt.
Potential Contributing Factors
Post COVID Impact: Few experts believe that the lingering effects of COVID19 and the stress associated with it may be one of the contributing factors to the increase in cases. Congenital Conditions and Stress: Long-standing congenital heart conditions coupled with high stress levels are considered significant risk factors.
Understanding Heart attack and Sudden Cardiac Arrest(SCA)
Heart attack is sudden stoppage of blood supply to the heart and causing it to fail. SCA is an abrupt stoppage of heart activity caused usually by abnormal and ineffective electrical activity called as arrhythmias. Both are more commonly seen in Adult population. These are usually fatal unless immediately treated with CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Heart attack is although sudden there are subtle signs preceding usually like chest pain, sweating or some uneasiness. These can start from few days before to as sudden as few minutes before the sudden collapsing of the person. On the other hand SCA which is due to electrical stoppage can be abrupt and sudden not giving any warning signs. Usually there are risk factors in the person and family history. Children now days in their adolescence are developing such underlying Pathologies due to various lifestyle factors, underlying specific medical conditions and some contributing genetic factors.
Common Causes in Young People:
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is a known entity for sudden deaths mainly in infants less than 1 yr. Causes being due to position of the child while sleeping and some other environmental and infant's genetic susceptibility. But sudden death in older children is not a very common phenomenon unlike adults.
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Thickening of the heart muscle, often hereditary.
- Congenital Heart Defects: Structural abnormalities present from birth.
- Arrhythmias: Heart rhythm irregularities; the most common cause is Long QT Syndrome.
- Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle caused by infections.
- Commotio Cordis: Trauma to the chest resulting in fatal rhythm disturbances.
Warning Signs: Many cases occur without warning, but possible signs include:
- Chest pain or discomfort during exercise.
- Dizziness or seizures.
- Shortness of breath.
- A family history of sudden cardiac death.
Anaphylaxis, Severe asthma attack, Seizures, Brain Aneurysmal rupture, are some of the non cardiac related conditions that can almost sudden deterioration and collapsing in children. Fortunately these are rare.
Prevention and Risk Mitigation
Regular Checkups
Annual health screenings and sports physicals can help identify risk factors early, especially for children and young adults with family histories of heart conditions.
Do not delay consulting your doctor if any such symptoms start or other symptoms that are unexplained or not going away in 24-48 hrs or rapidly worsening either in children or adults.
Awareness and Education
Schools, families, and communities need to pay greater attention to the education given regarding warning signs and knowing the times to rush a person for medical care.
Community Readiness
By placing AEDs in schools and public facilities, coupled with instructing students and staff members in CPR, there can be tremendous increase in the rates of survival.
Lifestyle Changes
Stress management, proper hydration, and balanced nutrition can encourage overall heart health. It's a wake-up call for society with the tragic loss of young lives.. The efforts to be made to tackle this critical issue include the coordination of parents, schools, healthcare providers, and policymakers. Better screening, more awareness, and increased access to lifesaving interventions can be effective in significantly reducing these preventable deaths.
