Solution for Sudden Death Syndrome

Dr. Rotimi Adesanya

Thank God we made it to the last day of 2014 and by God’s grace the year 2015.

The year 2014 is a significant year in the history of our great country Nigeria; we had an epidemic of a communicable disease, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). Many lives were lost, Care givers also became victims of EVD.

The public hospitals were open for only skeletal services for a quarter of the year 2014 which means people were only able to assess full comprehensive health care for 9 months in this year due to industrial disputes.

Over 200 girls in Chibok, North Eastern Nigeria were kidnapped leaving over 500 parents and close relatives to go through psychological and post traumatic stress disorders, some of the parents and relations died from uncontrolled hypertension while others had psychiatric disorders worsened by several sleepless nights.

Thousands of lives were also lost through collapsed buildings, fire incidents, water ways and road traffic accidents (RTAs).

The numbers of deaths from those that slumped and those that suffer cancers were alarming. While I commiserate with hundreds of families that were affected in the year 2014, I will suggest a healthy lifestyle to all in 2015.

A particular woman had slumped at a meeting few weeks ago. Everyone near her rushed instantaneously to give a helping hand and lift her up. She was put on a chair and they started fanning and pouring water on her. She was then rushed to the General Hospital. But within minutes of her arrival, she was pronounced dead by the doctor after examination. The doctor told them this is B.I.D, a medical abbreviation meaning brought in dead.

This occurrence of Sudden death syndrome which few people have heard about is becoming alarming. It is on the increase across the country, creating worry and anxiety.

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS)

Sudden death syndrome describes a sudden, unexpected death of adolescents and adults which may occur during sleep, whilst awake, or just after exercise most often associated with slumping.

Sudden Death Syndrome events are non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected occurrences resulting from cardiac arrest within as little as six hours of previously witnessed normal healthy person.

Causes

Most sudden deaths are due to heart conditions and are known as sudden arrhythmia death or sudden cardiac death syndrome (Heart attacks). Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome is common in young people. It is an inherited disease which creates an abnormality in the heart, causing it to speed up/slow down to the point where it can no longer pump blood in some cases, the heart will stop completely.

It is also caused by Cerebrovacular accident (CVA) commonly referred to as Stroke or brain attacks. This is mostly as a result of uncontrolled Hypertension and Diabetes.

Risk factors

Sudden death is common among those who are 40 years old and beyond; while it peaks for those who are over 60 years. The incidence is rare among younger people, though athletics and those involved in any sporting event are highly susceptible.

Conditions such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus and respiratory diseases are all risk factors

It affects men twice as it does women. Men are more susceptible because of activities, stress, hustling.

Prevention

Regular medical check-up is key to preventing sudden death and should be promoted. Through it, you are able to diagnose chronic diseases such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes mellitus and respiratory diseases.

Those who are over 40 years are advised to do a six-monthly or yearly comprehensive medical screening under the supervision of their physicians. The various profiles of kidney, heart, lung, prostrate, breast, cervical and other blood profile are done under the guidance of a physician.

Those with unexplained or persistent symptoms like weakness, weight loss, headache, body pain, tiredness etc will also need guided medical checks. Blood pressure and blood sugar should be monitored regularly.

Healthy lifestyle

In order to ensure healthy lifestyle, people are encouraged to imbibe the culture of a healthy lifestyle regularly:                                                                                                                                      Exercise (moderately) regularly, reduce salt intake, avoid junk meals high in fats and oils which only clog up the arteries, Take lots of whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, Take lots of water.

Most of the slumping takes place at work place, meetings, home etc but 9 out of 10 people around the incidence don’t know what to do .When someone at the workplace or our vicinity slumps, what next. I will continue this piece next week/next year with the title, ‘’How to rescue a person who slumps before medical helps arrive’’

In conjunction with the management of the strategic health insight (The hospital) Magodo GRA , I will be organising a monthly healthy lifestyle seminars from January 2015.

It is a community service hence no fee is charged for the sessions, experts in various fields of medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy and nursing will be leading the sessions. It is going to be a very interactive session. Pharmaceutical companies can also partner with us in this wellness programme.

The seminars are fixed for 5pm -7pm every (Every 2nd Saturdays). The maiden edition takes place on January 10th 2015.

Participants are to indicate their participation by calling or sending text messages to 08188343865 or 08186549147.

Visit my blogspot: www.doctoradesanya.blogspot.com for more on Sudden death Syndrome.