Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : October 27, 2015 9:27 AM IST
If you have ever suffered a sudden blackout, you must visit a doctor immediately. A new study says that blackouts and near drowning experiences must be taken seriously as they might signal a sudden death risk. At the Annual congress of the South African Heart Association, the experts from the European Society of Cardiology presented a special programme which highlighted the need for taking blackouts more seriously. Experts pointed out that blackouts are linked to cardiac disorders like LQTS. LQTS is a rare inherited or acquired cardiac disorder that is characterised by delayed repolarisation of the heart after a heart beat that increases the risk of palpitation, fainting and sudden death. Read: Two devices to predict mental blackouts launched
LQTS is treatable and the risk of sudden death can be reduced, but since blackouts are common and most often not serious, they are often ignored due to which serious events are often missed. Also, there are high chances that the underlying cause is misdiagnosed.
The research presented at the Congress showed that many patients with LQTS never see a doctor, or when they do, they are given an inaccurate diagnosis, the most common misdiagnosis in living patients was epilepsy and those who died was drowning.
The researchers highlighted the need to seek immediate medical attention if one experiences a blackout. They further said that sudden deaths can be prevented if people recognise unusual fainting events and take action. Fainting at the sight of blood is harmless but a blackout during activity is cause for further investigation. If someone suddenly stops swimming during a competition and floats lifeless this is obviously not a typical drowning.
Image source: Getty Images
