Heart disease is certainly one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Studies have shown that cardiac arrest, which causes sudden unexpected stoppage of heart function, could be prevented by identifying its early signs.

During cardiac arrest, the center stops pumping blood and the sudden stoppage deprives cells of oxygen. Fainting, dizziness, chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath and weakness are a few of its common signs.

In a recent study published in Lancet Digital Health, researchers found that these warning signs could be different in men and ladies. Since cardiac arrest claims the lives of 90% of people that experience it outside the hospital, predicting the condition and early identification of those warning signs are essential.

“Harnessing warning symptoms to perform effective triage for individuals who must make a 911 call may lead to early intervention and prevention of imminent death,” Sumeet Chugh, a senior creator of the study, said.

For the study, researchers analyzed data gathered from two well-known community-based studies, the Prediction of Sudden Death in Multi-Ethnic Communities (PRESTO) study in Ventura County, California, and the Sudden Unexpected Death Study (SUDS), based in Portland, Oregon.

In line with the findings, 50% of people who experience a sudden cardiac arrest have a telling symptom 24 hours prior to the occurrence.

Shortness of breath is reportedly its most distinguished symptom in women, while for men, it’s chest pain. A small subgroup of individuals also claimed to have experienced palpitations, flu-like symptoms and seizures.

“That is the primary community-based study to judge the association of warning symptoms — or sets of symptoms — with imminent sudden cardiac arrest using a comparison group with EMS-documented symptoms recorded as a part of routine emergency care,” Eduardo Marbán, executive director of the Smidt Heart Institute and the Mark Siegel Family Foundation distinguished professor, said in a news release.

Researchers hope their study will pave the best way for further studies on symptoms to reinforce the prediction of sudden cardiac arrest.

“Our findings may lead to a latest paradigm for prevention of sudden cardiac death,” Chugh said. “Next, we are going to complement these key sex-specific warning symptoms with additional features — comparable to clinical profiles and biometric measures — for improved prediction of sudden cardiac arrest.”

Published by Medicaldaily.com