Although there is no real known definite cause, extensive research showed people 18 years or older were found to have had a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes oddly thickened without any obvious cause. This was the most commonly identified abnormality in sudden death of young adults. In the instances where people experience sudden death, it is most commonly found that they had had CAD (coronary artery disease) or ASCAD (atherosclerotic coronary artery disease), or any level of stress. However, studies reveal that people experienced early symptoms within the week before the terminal event such as chest pain at ~52% of patients, dyspnea at ~22%, syncope at ~7% and ~19% who experienced no symptoms. Scientists have also associated this syndrome with the gene SCN5A that is mutated and affects the function of the heart. However, all autopsies done on those who had this syndrome came back negative.In the Philippines, bangungot (or in their term, sudden adult death syndrome) is mainly caused by the Brugada syndrome. Diagnosis
Diagnosis occurs post-mortem. Treatment
The only proven way to prevent SADS is with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Oral beta-blockers such as propranolol are ineffective. Epidemiology
In 1980, a reported pattern of sudden deaths was brought to the attention of the Centers for Disease Control. The first reported sudden death occurred in 1948 when there were 81 similar deaths of Filipino men in Oahu County, Hawaii. However, it did not become relevant because there was no associated pattern. This syndrome continued to become more significant as years went on.
In China it is called bèi guǐ yā (traditional Chinese: 被鬼壓; simplified Chinese: 被鬼压) which translates to "crushed by a ghost" in English. The Dutch call the presence a nachtmerrie, the night-mare. The "merrie" comes from the Middle Dutch mare, an incubus who "lies on peoples chests, suffocating them". This phenomenon is known among the Hmong people of Laos, who ascribe these deaths to a malign spirit, dab tsuam (pronounced "dah chua"), said to take the form of a jealous woman. Bangungot is depicted in the Philippines as a mythological creature called batibat or bangungot. This hag-like creature sits on the victims face or chest so as to immobilize and suffocate him. When this occurs, the victim is usually experiencing sleep paralysis. English names
Names in other languages
See also
Brugada syndrome
Night hag
Sleep paralysis
Sudden infant death syndrome
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy
Sudden unexplained death in childhood
Yunnan sudden death syndrome

References
Further reading
Agence France Presse (8 April 2002). "Sleeping death syndrome terrorises young men". The Borneo Post. Center for Disease Control (23 September 1988). "Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome Among Southeast Asian Refugees". MMWR. == External links ==