EXPLAINER: What is aborted sudden cardiac death and how can it be prevented?
Dr. Gia Sison opened up about dying for six seconds and then waking up to the voice of her husband asking her to "come back" to life.
The mental health advocate and psychologist became a trending topic on X on Saturday, March 9 after sharing that she recently went through aborted sudden cardiac death.
Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death
— Dr. Gia Sison (@giasison) March 9, 2024
February 25, 2024 (Happy birthday Mom)
You read it right. I died for six (6) seconds, stuck in a black hole then suddenly scooped back in with the prominent voice of my husband repeatedly asking me to “come back” after which I heard him apologize for… pic.twitter.com/s2DsUtBHV6
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Sison detailed her experience, saying that it happened while she and her partner Rogin were casually having a conversation one February afternoon. "Suddenly na lang, I slowly faded away. I just suddenly saw black," she recalled.
She woke up just a few seconds later to her husband repeatedly telling her: "Come back."
"When I opened my eyes, I saw my doctors, nurses, everyone was there to revive me. I finally saw so many bottles of life-saving IV solutions on my arm," she shared, adding that she was calmed down by Rogin "who was there all throughout."
"Everything is okay now," she continued. "It made me realize that life is short and any time, it can just be swept away from you like a rug, so live life to its fullest."
What is aborted sudden cardiac death?
Cardiac electrophysiologist Marcellus Ramirez told L!fe that aborted sudden cardiac death happens "when the heartbeat suddenly stops, patient goes into cardiac arrest, pulse goes to zero, blood pressure drops to zero, and patient drops dead."
The patient is eventually revived back to life "by some intervention—defibrillator, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), or medication—or sometimes spontaneously."
"If the arrest is long enough to cause diminished blood flow to the brain, the person could be comatose and be left in a vegetative state," he explained.
But if it was aborted "early enough," the cardiologist said the patient would be fine even after the arrest. They could, however, experience "some weakness or immediate drowsiness after."
The event is known as sudden cardiac death if the patient passes away.
Symptoms and prevention
Per Ramirez, one could be at risk for the condition if they have a heart disease as well as inherited arrythmia conditions.
Cardiologist Tony Leachon, in an interview with L!fe, said the most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, as well as tobacco and alcohol use. "The effects of these may show up in individuals as raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and obesity," he added.
While cardiac death could happen suddenly, one can also experience symptoms before it strikes the body, including immediate loss of consciousness (fainting).
According to Cleveland Clinic, other signs include heart palpitations, dizziness, lightheadedness, and weakness.
Ramirez said the best way to prevent this is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes watching what one eats, working out on a regular basis, and avoiding smoking. Doing so, he explained, "could prevent heart attacks, which are the most common cause of cardiac arrest."
Leachon also suggested taking medicines regularly, having regular visits to the doctor, sleeping for at least eight hours a day, and reducing stress.
"For others with high risk, an implanted defibrillator could help prevent it, too," he added.