Most deaths due to cardiac arrest are in older adults, particularly those with coronary artery disease. Cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes, but the incidence of it is unclear. Perhaps 1 in every 50,000 sudden cardiac deaths a year occurs in young athletes.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/in-depth/sudden-death/ART-20047571
Heart birth defects. Even if you have had surgery to correct a defect, you are still at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. Other things that can raise your chance include: Being male. Age -- the risk is higher for men after age 45 and for women after age 55. A previous cardiac arrest or heart attack.
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/features/sudden-cardiac-arrest-why
If a heart attack occurs, often as a result of severe coronary artery disease, it can trigger ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac arrest. In addition, a heart attack can leave behind areas of scar tissue. Electrical short circuits around the scar tissue can lead to abnormalities in your heart rhythm.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-causes/dxc-20164872
If someone you are with shows signs of a sudden cardiac arrest, call 911 or ask someone else to call. Be calm, and check to see if the person is able to respond to you. Start doing CPR right away if he is unconscious and is not breathing. CPR will keep the blood circulating to the brain and other organs.
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/features/sudden-cardiac-arrest-why
Coronary artery disease . This is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in people older than 35. Cardiomyopathy . When you have this condition, your heart muscle becomes enlarged or thick, so it's weakened.
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/features/sudden-cardiac-arrest-why
Though it’s true that sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a primary cause of death in adults (there are about 300,000 sudden cardiac deaths each year in the United States alone), it’s quite rare in the young. Around the world, there are millions of children and young adults who are able to live a healthy life and do whatever they want without incident.
http://www.sca-aware.org/schools/sudden-cardiac-arrest-in-kids-what-and-why
If this occurs during physical activity, it could be a sign that there's a problem with your heart. Family history of sudden cardiac death. The other major warning sign is a family history of unexplained deaths before the age of 50. If this has occurred in your family, talk with your doctor about screening options.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/in-depth/sudden-death/ART-20047571
By Bobby V. Khan, MD, PhD, Chairman, Board of Directors Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, and Assistant Professor Medicine/Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Jill was a healthy teenager who was very active in her school and church activities.
http://www.sca-aware.org/schools/sudden-cardiac-arrest-in-kids-what-and-why
Sometimes other signs and symptoms precede sudden cardiac arrest. These may include fatigue, fainting, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations or vomiting. But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/symptoms-causes/dxc-20164872
Sudden Cardiac Arrest May Have Early Warning Signs. TUESDAY, Nov. 19, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- A new study counters the commonly held belief that when most middle-aged men suffer cardiac arrest, it typically comes completely out of the blue.
http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20131119/sudden-cardiac-arrest-may-have-early-warning-signs
number one sign of sudden cardiac arrest
Number one signs of sudden cardiac arrest are fatigue, fainting, blackouts, dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, weakness, palpitations or vomiting. But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.