The European Heart Journal, official Journal of the European Society of Cardiology, published a study conducted in Denmark over the span of 11 years. The study followed family members of young victims of Sudden Cardiac Death.
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) in the young is often associated with genetic mutations so it isn’t a great surprise that the victims’ closest relatives would be at risk. All the technical data aside, the study boils down to this: first degree relatives of victims, who are under the age of 35, have the greatest risk of developing early cardiovascular disease.
The study further states “Since the cardiovascular conditions on which we focused are treatable, early identification of at-risk persons is potentially a life-saving action. Our findings are the first of their kind and support the initiation of cascade screening in families experiencing a SCD”
While these findings are new and will take time to reach the general public, that shouldn’t prevent doctors from looking into individual cases. If you feel that you are at risk, ask your doctor if early screening is right for you. As one of the greatest minds in modern science used to say, fortune favors the prepared mind.
Alisa Flom Patient Relations Coordinator
