What do any of you know about sudden cardiac death? Is it hereditary? If a person dies of SCD, can this be seen on an autopsy? My dad was thirty, 5.6, and 130 pounds when he died while swimming laps in a pool. He had never smoked, drank alcohol or caffeine. His autopsy was completely negative, and they called it an accidental drowning, inspite of the fact he was a swimmer. This was in '85. I am 24, and recently had an abnormal EKG, positive tilt test, and event monitor showed tachycardia, diagnosed with Inappropriate sinus tachycardia, but I'm having an EP study next week. Just wondering if maybe my other siblings, and my daughter, should have some cardiac testing done...maybe there IS something genetic here. What do you think?
There are a lot of things that can lead to SCD. Ask your cardiologist if your specific condition has hereditary factors, explain your father's history, and get the doc's input on having siblings examined.
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"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." ~ Hebrews 11:1 ~
I have CAD, have had a couple of heart attacks, 5 bypasses and have and ICD because of low EF and am highly likely to have SCD, or so I'm told. Many types of heart disease are hereditary while some are brought on by viral infections of one type or another. So to answer you question about SCD, I don't think anyone can really answer that. In my case, there isn't any family history of heart disease and that goes back several generations. I don't know if SCD would show up on an autopsy because according to my EP doc and Cardio Doc, SCD is generally caused by an electrical malfunction in the heart. This causes V-tach or V-fib and leads to all kinds of problems in very short order. An EP study enables the doctor to "map" the pathways the electrical impulse take in your heart. The doctor also attempts to induce an "event" where the heart stops or goes into V-fib. If he can induce such an event then you are a candidate for and ICD which monitors your heart and can defibrilate it should the need arise. It can also pace your heart to maintain set rates etc. All in all it is amazing stuff. I have an ICD and am very thankful for it.
What I have tried to relay here is all in very general or basic terms. In the end, you need to have this study done for some peace of mind as you have stated that you have some heart problems. Your siblings may be smart to get some basic tests done to check themselves out. Your daughter isn't necessarily in need of that depending on her age and health. You are young yet and your daughter probably isn't very old and will be seeing doctors for shots and general childhood check-ups with some regularity. You can mention your condition to her pediatrician and he/she can check her out then.
Sorry about rambling on here. Good luck with the EP study.
A heart muscle disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause the dangerous rhythm, ventricular tachcardia, to develop. This often develops into ventricular fibrillation followed by cardiac arrest. When you hear of a young fit person dying suddenly on the football field this is usually the cause. There is a strong genetic component, and much research is being done to develop a single genetic blood test to exclude this disease. Its course is highly variable and some people live to a great old age without any real problems. Others develop complications, but often these don't occur until people are in their 50's (this was true in my case). It is commonly diagnosed by cardiac echogram. I would have thought that micro-examination of the heart muscle at autopsy would have revealed the disease in your Dad. I am not medically qualified, but I would consult a cardiologist/electro-physiologist as there is a strong genetic component, and if your Dad was a victim of this disorder, you need to be monitored yourself. I have an implanted (chest wall) defibrillator to stop any episodes of VT with an electric shock straight into the heart ventricles. Also, there are quite effective drugs available. But the important thing is for you to find out about your heart. Good Luck. Please do not worry at this stage, but see an expert !
Excelsoir
A heart muscle disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can cause the dangerous rhythm, ventricular tachcardia, to develop. This often develops into ventricular fibrillation followed by cardiac arrest. When you hear of a young fit person dying suddenly on the football field this is usually the cause. There is a strong genetic component, and much research is being done to develop a single genetic blood test to exclude this disease. Its course is highly variable and some people live to a great old age without any real problems. Others develop complications, but often these don't occur until people are in their 50's (this was true in my case). It is commonly diagnosed by cardiac echogram. I would have thought that micro-examination of the heart muscle at autopsy would have revealed the disease in your Dad. I am not medically qualified, but I would consult a cardiologist/electro-physiologist as there is a strong genetic component, and if your Dad was a victim of this disorder, you need to be monitored yourself. I have an implanted (chest wall) defibrillator to stop any episodes of VT with an electric shock straight into the heart ventricles. Also, there are quite effective drugs available. But the important thing is for you to find out about your heart. Good Luck. Please do not worry at this stage, but see an expert !
Excelsoir
My dad died Jan. 12th, this month he was found dead in his bed and there was a small pool of blood at the edge of the bed where he lays his head. I never saw his body. Afterwards, i spotted the blood stains on his bedsheets that permeated to the mattress. The police were there and called me to tell me he was found dead. So, far there was no suspicious foul play but everyone is saying it is an heart attack because he had angina!! I have not receive his death certificate to see what the cause of death is and he has already cremated. I knew in the past that he has stated many times that the doctors said he has an enlarged heart.
Does anybody know if there is an connection between "angina" and an enlarged heart? Also, does a heart attack bring up blood from inside that would cause blood stains on the bed where he was laying down?
I am trying to find closure to this mystery about his death and i appreciate any feedback from anyone!!
Re: Sudden Cardiac Death 
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