While inherited heart conditions are one of the leading causes of cardiac arrest, with the survival rate being only one in ten, sometimes, underlying heart conditions can go unknown for a long time and not manifest until later in life. ICC’s, or ‘inherited heart conditions, is the term for any heart condition passed on genetically, varying in symptoms and severity.
It is essential to know whether you have one of these conditions or not so that if a medical emergency ever occurs, you or those around you can act accordingly.
Read on for the information, names and symptoms of some lesser-known conditions so that people can get checked out if they see or feel any of the signs in themselves or others close to them.
Types of ICC
Familial cardiomyopathy
Inherited cardiomyopathy is a common inherited heart condition that you might not know about, affecting the structural and functional disorders of the heart muscle. The condition occurs when the heart muscle becomes thin and weakened in at least one chamber of the heart, and therefore the heart cannot pump blood around the body, leading to serious medical issues.
The three types of cardiomyopathy include:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
This condition is often asymptomatic, so if you know of a family member that has one, it is crucial that you have a screening to find out if you do too. The common symptoms of cardiomyopathy include:
- An irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Extreme tiredness
- Fainting episodes
- Swelling of the legs and feet.
Familial arrhythmias
Arrhythmia is the term used to describe the common inherited heart conditions that cause irregular heartbeats. Although over 2 million people in the UK alone have a type of arrhythmia and lead a perfectly healthy life, it is crucial to make sure that you are aware of your diagnosis and the severity of it and how to act in case of an emergency.
Whilst the symptoms can go unnoticed, there are certain common symptoms to look out for that suggest familial arrhythmias, including:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Heart palpitations (rapid or fluttering heartbeat)
- Pain or pounding in the chest
- Shortness of breath.
- Syncope (fainting)
- Weakness or fatigue
Danish footballer Christian Erikson is one of the best-known cases of this; after collapsing during a live football game due to be inherited heart condition called ventricular fibrillation, a type of heart rhythm disruption, and without the intervention of a defibrillator, would not have survived the episode.
Familial arrhythmias types include:
- Brugada syndrome
- Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia
- Long QT syndrome
- Short QT syndrome
- Timothy syndrome
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
- Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.
Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS)
SADS is when a person dies suddenly due to cardiac arrest without explaining why or any existing known heart conditions. As with the previous conditions mentioned, if you have a family member who has passed away as a result of SADS, it is vitally important that you consult your GP to rule out any heart conditions.
What to know about inherited heart conditions
If you are worried that you may have an inherited heart condition, one of the clearest and easiest ways to find out this information is by looking at family history.
As these genetic heart conditions have a 50% chance of being passed onto children, if you have a parent with a condition, you should seek medical advice and arrange a screening to diagnose or rule out any conditions.
ICC symptoms to be aware of:
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, abdomen and veins in the neck
- Dizziness
- Feeling faint
- Fainting during physical activity
- abnormal heartbeats.
If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, this may be an indication that you might have an undiagnosed inherited heart consider, and you should seek medical advice from your GP.
For more information on what to do if you are experiencing heart-related symptoms, please refer to the NHS website.
If a heart-related disease does strike and a person experiences cardiac arrest, having quick access to a defibrillator can be the difference between life and death. Contact us today to discuss the best defibrillator options for you.
