Death is inevitable and we consider it a natural part of life. Most of us, of course, expect to live well into old age. Especially those who take care of themselves, eat healthily, and exercise regularly. This is what makes the phenomenon known as SADS – Sudden Adult Death Syndrome – so shocking.
With this syndrome, otherwise healthy people less than 40 years old just die suddenly with no warning or preexisting conditions. This is what health experts want you to know. This is because the cause of death is a random cardiac event without any pretext or preexisting conditions. It often occurs in completely healthy, active, young people.
Many people feel that this answer is not good enough. That’s why the SADS Foundation, based in the United States, has shared a report claiming that SADS has affected children and young adults as well as teens. The foundation determined that 4,000 deaths annually can be attributed to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
Some people are at higher risk of dying from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome than their peers. If a family member has ever been diagnosed with SADS or has died suddenly and unexpectedly, that’s one sign that a person is at risk. Another known risk is when someone faints or has a seizure when startled or excited.
Many people who have lost friends and loved ones to this shocking and devastating syndrome are now telling their stories in hopes that some future deaths can be avoided. One of those was 31-year-old Catherine Keane from Dublin, Ireland.
Catherine was living with her housemates in Dublin. Still being the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her housemates were all working from home. One morning, Catherine didn’t come down for breakfast at her regular time. Because they were all working from home, her roommates didn’t think much of it at first.
Finally, however, at around 11:20 am, they sent her a text to ask if she was alright. When Catherine didn’t answer, they went to check on her in her room. It was there they found that she had passed away during the night.
Catherine’s mother Margherita says that her daughter was very healthy and active. She had no health concerns whatsoever. Margherita insisted that her daughter “went to the gym and walked 10,000 steps every day.”
More research is going into ASDS. In Australia, Melbourne’s Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute will be launching a program to look at the phenomenon by creating the country’s first SADS register.
“There are approximately 750 cases per year of people aged under 50 in Victoria suddenly having their heart stop (cardiac arrest),” a spokesperson said. “Of these, approximately 100 young people per year will have no cause found even after extensive investigations such as a full autopsy (SADS phenomenon).”
Source: AWM
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