- Sudden cardiac arrest is serious and often fatal condition.
- For the first time, a new study examines the factors that increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
- Researchers identify more than 50 factors associated with increased or decreased risk.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops entirely or fails to pump adequately. Due to its sudden nature, it is often fatal.
People with existing cardiovascular problems have a high risk of sudden cardiac arrest, but when it occurs in people without these problems, it is often not clear why.
A new study, which appears in the Canadian Cardiology JournalStudy this condition by examining the risk factors associated with sudden heart death.
In total, they identified 56 non -medical risk factors. They also calculated that 40 to 63% of sudden heart stops could be prevented if these factors were reduced.
Above all, as the authors explain, the changes in lifestyle explained the “greatest proportion of avoidable cases”.
The researchers hope that their work will help clinicians get away from reacting to sudden cardiac arrest and preventing it.
As the name suggests, suddenly cardiac arrestThe heart suddenly ceases to beat or stop sending enough blood around the body. On a global scale, there is an estimated 2 million cases per year linked to this heart health event.
To date, the most well established Risk factors For cardiac arrest is a pre -existing cardiovascular problem, as well as:
- Respiratory arrest – for example, when someone drowns or chokes
- diabetes – This can cause sudden changes in electrolyte levels, which affect the heart
- Certain drugs, including antibiotics And diuretics
- Physical trauma – like a sudden injury, especially in the heart region.
Beyond these factors, sudden cardiac arrest is difficult to predict, so that most research has focused on the best ways to resuscitate these individuals rather than preventing its occurrence.
Scientists had access to data from British BiobankTotaling 502,094 adults of middle aged and older, which they followed for an average of 13.8 years.
Individuals in this database provided long -term detailed information on a wide range of factors, including lifestyle factors such as food and exercise.
They also provided samples of blood and urine, allowing researchers to analyze their DNA and their biomarkers, and they have undergone various medical imaging tests.
To give meaning to the risk factors involved in sudden cardiac arrest, scientists used Mendelian randomization. This technique helps to identify modifiable environmental influences on diseases using genetic information.
Analysis discovered 56 risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest.
Medical news today speak Bradley SowerMD, interventional cardiologist, chief doctor at Vitalsolution – an Ingnovis health company – which was not involved in the study, on the results.
“This study is the first to examine associations between modifiable risk factors and the sudden impact of cardiac arrest,” said Serwer. “They have gathered risk factors in five categories: lifestyle, local environment, physical measures, psychosocial factors and socioeconomic status.”
Many risk factors, as for Serwer, were as expected, “like smoking, poor diet and lack of physical activity”.
Others, however, were more surprising. Then we will examine some of the specific factors identified in this study. In particular, we will focus on the factors that are – at least partially – under the control of an individual.
In this category, some of the risk factors with the strongest relationships with sudden cardiac arrest included:
- smoking
- take a nap during the day
- Watch large amounts of television
- Low fruits and vegetables
- Find it difficult to wake up.
At the same time, certain factors were associated with a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and these included:
- regular vigorous physical activity
- drink alcohol
- drink red wine
- Drinking white wine and champagne.
A few Previous research suggested that consumption of moderate red wine could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, but that overall alcohol, white wine and champagne seem protective is more surprising.
Overall, the study results suggest that following a healthy diet, adequate sleep, quit smoking and staying physically active are the best ways to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Mnt spoke to Maddie Gallivan, RD, a recorded dietitian who was not involved in the study. Gallivan has offered some advice on food choices can help protect heart health.
“Maintaining cardiac health is to reduce inflammation through daily food choices,” said Gallivan.
“This means reducing highly processed food as far as possible – such as processed meats and packaged snacks – and opt for more whole and anti -inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fatty fish and whole grains.”
– Maddie Gallivan, RD
“These foods are the cornerstone of Mediterranean regimeWho is one of the most studied heart health models and is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, “she noted.
Although this analysis notes that alcohol can also reduce your risk, it is likely to increase your risk of other health problems. Moderation is the key.
In the psychosocial category, here are some of the strongest factors at an increased risk:
- Feel tired or lethargic
- often feeling non -enthusiastic
- solitude
- Feeling frequently depressed.
Conversely, being involved in social and leisure activities was linked to a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
Loneliness is a
Connection with others can reduce loneliness, give life to life and generally increase mood.
Also, “ensure that patients have access to mental health services to approach anxiety Or depression can be very beneficial, ”said Serwer Mnt.
In this category, some of the most important risk factors in sudden cardiac arrest were:
- larger waist
- higher levels of body fat
- Higher BMI.
The factors related to risk reduction were:
- Forced expiratory volume – a measurement of the pulmonary function
- Maximum expiratory flow – also a measurement of the pulmonary function
- Force of grip for hand.
According to these factors, and in accordance with what we have already covered, following a healthy diet rich in plants and to remain regular, it is likely to help reduce risks by increasing physical form and helping individuals to progress towards a healthier weight.
“Since a sudden cardiac arrest is multifactorial,” said Serwer Mnt“Prevention must be approached in several perspectives”.
“Individuals at higher risks of sudden cardiac arrest should consult their cardiologist to identify the changes necessary to reduce their risk.” He told us that the prevention approach “depends on the specific type of anomaly”.
“Generally,” continued Sénwer, “healthy lifestyles, a regular exercise (if applicable), a well -balanced diet, the avoidance of smoking and weight loss (if applicable) are recommended.”
Mnt also contacted Srihari NaiduMD, who will soon start his role as president of the company for angiography and cardiovascular interventions. Naidu, who was not involved in the study, is also a professor of medicine at the New York Medical College.
He described certain problems related to the overthrow of these lifestyle factors. “These, in my opinion, are only modifiable at the level of the population by really attacking the socio-economic and educational disparities which, over time, allow all people financial flexibility and time and resolution to take healthier habits.”
Among these factors, however, he thinks that the diet may be the best to target by eating “more fruits and vegetables and focusing on the lower BMI”. However, he also explained that it can still be difficult because these “foods are a higher cost and less easily available”.
“In the longer term, the prioritization of education for everyone so that everyone has the opportunity to improve their socioeconomic status over time will also help reduce the sudden cardiac arrest rate.” He also recommended that they encourage people to “find outlets to improve mood, such as healthy hobbies, regular exercises and social interaction”.
“Although this study is intriguing, it has several limits,” said Serwer Mnt. “The study is designed to assess the association rather than proving causation,” he said.
“In addition, he did not differentiate the different types of sudden cardiac arrest, which is crucial when fighting the pathological mechanisms of the event,” he noted.
Experts classify a sudden cardiac arrest in different ways. These categories include ventricular fibrillation, marked by a chaotic heart rate and an electrical activity without impulse, where an ECG shows an electrical activity, but the heart does not effectively pump blood.
Sudden cardiac arrest can also be classified by the underlying cause, including cardiac causes, such as coronary disease or non-cardiac causes, such as an electrolytic imbalance.
These subcategories may have different risk factors.
The authors of a Support editorial Published alongside the study, Nicholas Grubic, MSC, and Dakota Gustafson, PHD, from Queen’s University to Kingston, Canada, have expressed the hope that this study will help doctors gradually passing from prevention reaction.
“To make spectacular discounts of the immense burden, a sudden cardiac arrest of the place on the health system, this story must extend beyond acute intervention to a wider strategy and on the scale of the population which favors primary prevention.”
This, he recognized, will be a difficult task: “while moving from the response to a sudden cardiac arrest to actively prevent his occurrence may seem simple, it is much more complex in practice.”