Understanding and Preventing Sudden Death

Your Life Matters

Sudden death is an uncommon condition. But when it occurs, especially in a young person, the acute loss can generate a substantial amount of grief with a great sense of disbelief. This mysterious and dreadful condition instils much fear and anxiety into the living, and more specifically for family members and friends. Understandably, the apprehension is brought about by the unexpectedness of the event and uncertainty of the consequences. The feeling of uneasiness is largely attributed to the lack of information regarding this condition. However in recent years, several causes of sudden death have been clarified. Treatment modalities have improved and reduced the occurrence of dying suddenly.

This book is meant for anyone who wants to know more about sudden death. It aims to diminish its terror by explaining the various conditions that predispose individuals to sudden death and ways which may prevent it from occurring.

Contents:

• Reflections on Sudden Death

• Dedication

• About the Author

• Preface by ESM Goh Chok Tong

• Preface

• Forward

• Abbreviations

• Introduction:

  • It Just Did Not Happen Suddenly, or Did it?

• Sudden Unexpected Death Syndromes:

  • Surprise! Happy … Birthday?: Heart Attacks and … Heart Attacks
  • A Peculiar Chamber: Thickened Heart Muscle Walls: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • The First Kiss Of Love … and Death: Emotional Ups and Downs, Electrical Longs and Shorts: The Long-QT Syndrome
  • Clues and Red Herrings: The Most Unhearty “Wagyu”: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
  • Slipping into Eternal Rest: Death Creeping into Sleep: The Brugada Syndrome
  • “:Ah-Choo!” “… and You are Dead!”: Infection and Inflammation of the Heart: Myocarditis
  • “I Have Just had a Baby, Not a Cardiac Arrest!”: A Large Weak Heart: Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • The Big White Killer Wolf: Bypass Tracts and Short-Circuits: the Pre-Excitation Syndrome
  • It's Not Only the Heart: Time Bombs Ticking in the Head
  • The Sporadic Killers: Less Common Causes of Sudden Death

• Can Sudden Death be Prevented?

  • History … Checked … Examination … Checked … Investigation … Checked …: The Role of Routine Medical Examination
  • Keep on Moving: Physical Activity and Exercise
  • Longevity Potions and Elixir of Health: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation
  • Poisons and Medicines: Drugs that Prevent Sudden Death
  • Empowering the Rescuer: CPR Training and Advent of Automated External Defibrillator
  • Having Your Personal ER Team: Intra-Cardiac Defibrillators

• The Final Post

• References

• Index

Readership: General public (family and friends of the deceased, witnesses and care-givers), GPs, medical students training in cardiology, paramedics and cardiologists.
Key Features:

• No known competing title and written public information on this subject is lacking
• Author is an eminent cardiologist with previous books communicating to the public
• This book contains up-to-date information and guidance on the subject