Cardiac Deaths Increase Among the Young

According to the CDC, sudden cardiac death (SCD), typically considered a danger mainly to the middle-aged, showed a 10% increase in persons between the ages of 15 and 34 over the last decade.  AND the SCD death rate increased by 30% in young women.  And alarmingly, death rates were also higher among young African-Americans than whites.  All this was reported at the American Heart Association’s 41st Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, in San Antonio, Texas. 

CDC Director Jeffrey Koplan, M.D., M.P.H. stated “we can’t fully explain this increase in SCD among young people, particulary women.  Perhaps among other things, poor recognition of heart events in younger patients and delayed application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation or defibrillation may also be contributing to this increase.”

Dr. Koplan goes on to say that “families with a history of early heart disease or sudden cardiac death should talk to their doctors about screening younger family members.”  Early identification of risk and prompt attention when signs of heart distress are recognized could help reduce SCD in peoples ages 15-34, according to the CDC.

To see a full exerpt of this information go to: About.com-US Government Info