“The deception of well-being.” Sudden death kills young people who missed the pre-emptive examination

Doctors have warned of the increase in cases of sudden death among young people, stressing that this phenomenon is no longer as rare as was thought, confirming that it affects people who appear healthy on the outside and without previous illness or clear warning, pointing out that what is known as “sudden death” does not mean the absence of a cause, but rather the absence of prior diagnosis, and that good health does not only mean the absence of symptoms, but rather proactive monitoring of the body before it sends danger signals.

They told Al-Emarat Al-Youm that sudden death among young people is rarely a mere coincidence, identifying 10 hidden causes that may lead to sudden death in apparently healthy young people, the most prominent of which are “hereditary electrical syndromes in the heart that do not appear in the traditional clinical examination, and do not cause symptoms except when a serious attack occurs, silent inflammation of the heart muscle or simple deformities in the coronary arteries that the person was born with without knowing it, and the presence of a family history of sudden death, especially at the age of Early, as many heart diseases that cause sudden death are genetically transmitted, and chemical imbalances in the body such as thyroid, liver, or kidney disorders, and blood salt disorders that may develop completely silently, the first symptom of which is a severe collapse or loss of consciousness, in addition to severe psychological pressure and chronic tension that may exacerbate silent diseases or accelerate a sudden physical collapse.

Doctors observed five common denominators in cases of young people who arrived at emergency departments or whose cases of sudden death were recorded without prior disease indicators, and who described themselves as “completely healthy,” including “severe fatigue, lack of sleep, neglect of previous symptoms such as dizziness or palpitations, dependence on painkillers or stimulants, and the absence of regular medical examination.”

They identified seven symptoms and signs that young people underestimate, despite their seriousness, and which may lead to sudden death. They include “fainting, dizziness during exertion, irregular heartbeat, sudden shortness of breath, unclear chest or upper abdominal pain, and extreme fatigue for no apparent reason, in addition to mental confusion or sudden severe headaches,” stressing that ignoring these signs, even if they are mild or intermittent, may have serious consequences.

They also identified six basic measures to avoid the risk of sudden death in young people, including “full awareness of symptoms, exercising moderately, avoiding stimulants, abstaining from smoking, controlling stress, and not ignoring periodic cardiac examination, especially for those who have a family history or practice competitive sports.”

Sudden cardiac death

In detail, interventional cardiologist Dr. Hisham Tayel warned of an increase in cases of sudden cardiac death among young people in recent years without prior illness or clear warning, stressing that behind this “sudden death” in apparently healthy people often hide silent diseases that are not discovered until it is too late.

He said that sudden death in youth is rarely random or just a coincidence, explaining that there are several hidden cardiac causes that are more common, and may lead to sudden death in apparently healthy young people, and they include “dangerous heart rhythm disturbances, especially those that occur due to an electrical defect in the heart or hereditary electrical syndromes, such as Brugada syndrome or QT prolongation, and cardiomyopathy, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle is abnormally thick without “The patient feels something.”

He pointed out that some cases are also due to silent infections in the heart muscle, or simple congenital malformations in the coronary arteries that the person was born with without knowing it, and they may not be discovered until it is too late, especially among young people who live their lives normally or participate in intense sporting activities.

He stressed that genetic factors play a pivotal role in this phenomenon, explaining that the presence of a family history of sudden death, especially at an early age, is an alarm bell that cannot be ignored and requires immediate examination, as many heart diseases that cause sudden death are transmitted genetically, and a person may be a carrier of the disorder without symptoms until a seizure occurs.

He stressed the importance of not underestimating basic cardiac examinations, especially electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac ultrasound (Echo), because of their role in early detection of serious disorders, in addition to using a Holter device to monitor the pulse, or resorting to genetic tests when there is suspicion of the presence of strong indicators and genetic causes.

Regarding cardiac signs or symptoms that require an immediate visit to the doctor or the emergency room, even if the symptoms are mild or intermittent, he called for seeing a doctor immediately when symptoms such as fainting or sudden dizziness appear, especially during exertion, severe or irregular palpitations, unexplained chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, and abnormal fatigue with the slightest effort, stressing that any young man who feels any of these symptoms must undergo immediate examinations, and not underestimate them, no matter how simple they may seem.

He added that unfortunate cases of young people had been monitored who died suddenly without any previous cardiac diagnosis or clear medical complaints, stressing that what draws most attention in these cases is that a large number of them could have been discovered through simple tests if they had been conducted in a timely manner, stressing that the absence of symptoms does not mean at all the absence of danger, and that awareness and preventive examination are not a luxury, but rather a real necessity to protect lives.

Regarding how young people can prevent the risk of sudden heart-related death, he stressed that prevention begins with awareness, exercising moderately, avoiding stimulants and drugs, abstaining from smoking, and controlling stress, in addition to not neglecting periodic cardiac examination, especially for those who have a family history or practice competitive sports.

Severe imbalances

Emergency Medicine Consultant, Dr. Talal Mazik, confirmed that sudden deaths among young people do not medically mean the absence of a cause, but rather the absence of a prior diagnosis, pointing out that many of these cases are associated with silent diseases or severe imbalances that occur suddenly before there is an opportunity to discover them, explaining that the body may compensate for the imbalance for a long period without clear symptoms, until it reaches a sudden collapse point, as a result of an acute motivating factor such as severe stress, dehydration, or sudden physical exertion, which is frequently monitored in Emergency departments.

He explained that the causes of sudden death in young people are not limited to the heart only, but rather include dangerous non-cardiac factors, such as “severe pulmonary clots, unexpected bleeding or strokes, sudden severe infections such as blood poisoning, and severe uncontrolled asthma attacks, in addition to severe imbalances in blood salts such as sodium or potassium, or cases of drug poisoning and misuse of medications and stimulants.”

He pointed out that some diseases and chemical imbalances may develop completely silently, such as thyroid disorders or liver and kidney diseases, without any obvious symptoms, pointing out that the real danger lies in that their first appearance may be in the form of a sudden loss of consciousness or a severe collapse, especially when they coincide with fatigue or lack of sleep.

He stressed that lifestyle plays a pivotal role in raising the level of risk, explaining that chronic lack of sleep and psychological stress raise stress hormones and affect the nervous system and heart rhythm, while stimulants and energy drinks may lead to dangerous disturbances in the pulse or blood pressure, while smoking and obesity contribute to chronic infections and increase the risk of clots and breathing disorders even in young people.

He pointed out that many of the cases that reach the emergency room or record sudden deaths share similar factors, most notably extreme fatigue, lack of sleep, neglect of previous symptoms such as dizziness or palpitations, reliance on painkillers or stimulants, and the absence of regular medical examination, even though their owners considered themselves “completely healthy.”

He stressed the need not to ignore symptoms that may seem simple or fleeting, such as fainting or semi-fainting, unexplained palpitations, sudden shortness of breath, unclear chest or upper abdominal pain, unusual severe fatigue, or sudden severe headaches, stressing that the recurrence of these symptoms requires urgent medical evaluation, and that health is not only the absence of symptoms, but proactive monitoring of the body before it sends danger signals.

Psychological reasons

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Riyad Khudair, said that the phenomenon of sudden death among young people without clear warnings touches on one of the deepest human fears, which is the loss of control and the inability to predict. He pointed out that it shakes the prevailing mental image of young people as the group with the most health security, which is directly reflected in the collective consciousness and fuels feelings of fear and anxiety in society.

He explained that the repetition of these incidents creates a fragile sense of security, as individuals begin to reinterpret any simple health symptom as a potential threat, which raises the level of psychological tension and general anxiety, and may push some of them into a state of constant suspense or health obsessions.

He stressed that severe psychological pressure and chronic stress represent an indirect risk factor that cannot be ignored, as constant stress leads to a rise in stress hormones, affects the nervous system, heart and immune system, and may exacerbate silent diseases or accelerate sudden physical collapse, especially among those who neglect sleep and rest or rely on stimulants to adapt to daily pressures.

He stressed that the absence of a clear medical explanation for death may leave grief open-ended and delay psychological recovery, pointing out that many of the cases he dealt with showed oscillation between denial, anger, fear, and sometimes a loss of confidence in the body or in the future, which makes specialized psychological support a necessity, not an option.

First line of defense

Dr. Riyad Khudair stressed that balanced psychological and health awareness plays a pivotal role in reducing societal anxiety, explaining that understanding the causes of these cases and realizing that many of their risks can be reduced through early examination and a healthy lifestyle helps reduce irrational fear and restores people’s sense of control instead of living in a state of constant anxiety.

He sent a direct message to young people, stressing that fear is a natural human reaction, but it must not turn into psychological paralysis, explaining that caring about health does not mean panic, but rather awareness, and that periodic examinations, listening to the body’s signals, and regulating lifestyle are the sources of true safety, while constant anxiety does not protect, but rather drains the body psychologically and physically.

He called for not ignoring some psychological and behavioral signs that may constitute an early warning, such as sudden and excessive anxiety for no apparent reason, recurring panic attacks, severe sleep disturbances, chronic mental fatigue, or severe behavioral changes and social withdrawal, stressing that these signs require an integrated psychological and medical evaluation.

He stressed that balanced mental health is not separate from physical health, but rather constitutes the first line of defense, pointing out that psychological balance improves sleep, regulates hormones and enhances immunity, and that a healthy lifestyle based on stress management, physical activity, and proper nutrition contributes to reducing the risks of exacerbation of silent diseases or the occurrence of sudden crises, stressing that true prevention begins with the mind, and then reflects safety on the body.

• 5 common denominators among young people who died without prior medical indicators, most notably fatigue, lack of sleep, and dependence on painkillers.