SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Each year, 356 thousand Americans die suddenly, without warning, from cardiac arrhythmias. And it’s not always the elderly or unhealthy. Sometimes, we lose a young person. In fact, every hour a person under the age of 18 dies from an unexpected heart problem. As Ivanhoe explains, knowing your risk factor is the first step to saving your life or the life of someone you love.
Tia and Logan Hansen make the most of every moment with their kids Cove, Lydia, and little Skylar.
Tia says, “I just feel grateful that I’ve lived a normal life and so grateful that my kids are just these crazy, fun, awesome kids.”
Grateful they are healthy even though all three tested positive for Long QT Syndrome, a type of SADS —or Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome, a genetic disorder that Tia was diagnosed with when she was just eleven.
Tia explains, “At first, it was, it was a really big deal. It was a very scary.”
Her aunt was the first to find out she had it, followed by her dad, and two of her siblings. That’s not unusual. If someone in your family has SADS, their children have a 50 percent chance of also having it.
Alice Lara runs the SADS foundation. Her mission—to get the word out.
Lara says, “Letting people know there’s something to check out as family history is number one.”
Susan Etheridge, MD, Pediatric Cardiology Electrophysiology at the University of Utah explains, “The important thing is recognition and the warning signs that can cause trouble.”
The main symptoms—fainting, seizures, or shortness of breath during exercise, being startled by doorbells, alarm clocks or telephones. University of Utah Pediatric Electrophysiologist Susan Etheridge says to watch out for a history of unexpected, or unexplained sudden death in your family before the age of 40.
Doctor Etheridge says, “They never put two and two together and know that that single car accident or that drowning was in fact a SADS condition.”
SADS is treatable, usually with just a daily dose of beta blockers.
Tia says, “I’ve lived my whole life being perfectly healthy, asymptomatic. The other kids have been perfectly wild kids. You wouldn’t ever guess that they’re on beta blockers.”
The most important thing, they know they have it. They can control it and live normal, healthy lives.
The SADS Foundation is also working on procedures that would have every baby born in the US tested for SADS.
Although it’s not curable right now, the current therapies are good and there’s a lot of research moving forward to advance the treatment. To find out about clinical trials being done right now, log on to https://sads.org/.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor and videographer.
Sources:
SADS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUDDEN ADULT DEALTH SYNDROME
REPORT #3060
BACKGROUND: Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is a heart condition that is inherited and affects the heart’s electrical system, presenting an abnormal heart rhythm. One of the more common types of SADS, known as Long QT syndrome, happens in an estimated one out of 2,000 newborns. Another type, Brugada syndrome, happens in less than one percent of the population. Each year, about 200,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest, and about 4,000 children and young adults die each year from a SADS condition. Diagnostic methods vary by the type of SADS a person is diagnosed with. Some diagnostic tools include electrocardiogram (EKG); genetic testing; treadmill stress test; echocardiogram; cardiac catheterization diagnostic test; and electrophysiologic study.
(Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23214-sudden-arrhythmic-death-syndrome)
SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION: Symptoms can vary with the different types of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. Some of the common symptoms include fainting or having a seizure while exercising, chest pain during exercise; and shortness of breath while exercising. Prevention begins with the knowledge that if someone in the family has sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, you need to have others in the family tested for the genetic mutation. Once a loved one has a diagnosis, they can take preventive steps to protect themselves with medicine or a procedure. The outlook for sudden arrhythmic death syndrome depends on the type a person is diagnosed with and whether they get an early diagnosis and prompt treatment because it is a lifelong condition that can be fatal. More research is still needed to find the best treatments.
NEW SCREENING TEST FOR SADS: Research from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia has uncovered a test for people to find out if they are carrying genetic mutations that cause sudden cardiac arrest. Researchers have developed a new electrical test that can screen hundreds of gene mutations to pinpoint the exact mutations that are harmful to the heart for those suffering from inherited heart disorder syndromes. “If you can isolate the mutation and identify those at risk, there are lifestyle changes people can make, as well as taking beta-blockers or even using a defibrillator. Family members can also get themselves tested too,” says Dr. Chai-Ann Ng, of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. The breakthrough is a giant step forward in the accuracy and precision of genetic testing that has overwhelming implications for not only inherited heart disorders, but a wide range of neurological conditions, and muscle and kidney diseases.
* For More Information, Contact:
Kylene Metzger
Media Relations Mgr., Univ. of Utah Health
Anna Goodson
SADS Communications Director
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