Gastrointestinal conditions are a less common cause of sudden unexpected death when compared to other conditions such as cardiovascular conditions, but they are equally important. Sudden arrhythmia death syndrome (SADS) is commonly used to describe a sudden, otherwise undetermined cause of death. One disorder which commonly affects older people or infants and can cause death during sleep is central sleep apnea. It is not a disease that someone already has; most of the time it is due to other health issues such as genetic heart conditions which may have been undiagnosed in an otherwise healthy individual. Can blood tests be used to help determine the severity level of COVID-19 illness? It is often a combination of these health problems that cause the body to fail and ultimately result in death. Records also were obtained from the Coroner's Office dealing with 385 sudden deaths among elderly patients in this area. The causes of sudden cardiac death in young people vary. Some specific causes of sudden cardiac death in … As a person approaches death, they become less active. In conclusion, some subjects in the elderly showed risky changes in the above parameters and ECG, factors which may partially explain some of the causes of the many reported cases of lapse of consciousness and unexpected sudden death in the elderly while bathing especially in the winter season. The most common life-threatening arrhythmia is ventricular fibrillation, which is an erratic, disorganized firing of impulses from the ventricles (the heart’s lower chambers). Multiple injuries and suicides are serious and preventable causes of death. Apnea refers to the pause or stop in breathing and each apnea's duration is … More commonly known as a stroke, the cause of cerebrovascular disease is either a clot or blockage that cuts off blood flow to a part of the brain or a brain hemorrhage. Most sudden cardiac deaths are caused by abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias. COVID-19 is well known for breathing problems, but other health complications also contribute towards the death from COVID-19. As a geriatric medicine physician specializing in care for older adults, I am witnessing the COVID-19 pandemic cause more problems for older adults than just sickness and death. This abnormal heart rhythm is known as ventricular fibrillation. It occurs due to your brain’s improper way of sending signals to your muscles. If you hear of an athlete falling dead on … For a variety of reasons, something causes the heart to beat out of control. Most often, death is due to a heart abnormality. In fact, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people younger than 30. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for the largest number of sudden deaths, bronchopulmonary diseases second, and cerebrovascular accidents third. Standardised death rates for the elderly — main causes of death in the EU and the Member States. 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