Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome or SADS is a mysterious and sudden cause of death in people during sleep. Adults and adolescents are the most likely victims of SADS. Although the occurrence of SADS is rare all throughout the world, Science links SADS more with people who have a distinct culture and genetic makeup.
SADS more likely occurs in Asian men, although SADS can happen to anyone. The condition is seeing quite a rise in more developed Asian countries such as the Philippines, where it is known as “Bangungot.” It also frequently happens in Japan and is known as “Pokkuri.”
Western Ties
Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome also has its roots in mystery in the western world. A famous Renaissance painting done by Swiss Painter Henry Fuseli captures this mysteriousness among the doctors during that era. The painting depicts a small being or a troll sitting on top of the chest or stomach of a woman who looks either dead or dying.
The painting mentioned above is aptly named “The Nightmare.” Most sufferers who survive the rare and mysterious condition also recall having a nightmare and a heavy feeling or pressure on top of their chest that restricts their breathing. Just like the name and the picture depicted on the painting, details of this dreadful condition are eerily identical.
With all the mystery and horror-like beliefs related to this terrifying syndrome, science and research show that people who suffer from the status, report that most of them experience cardiac problems before succumbing to their demise. The type of Mattresses often do not play a role in causing such mysterious problems.
Most of these cardiac problems are related to presyncope and syncope. Presyncope is a condition wherein people become lightheaded, experience muscular weakness, and blurry vision. Syncope, on the other hand, is the complete passing out of a person due to a weak heart. Both of these conditions are genetic, again providing some link to culture and genetics as mentioned above.
Healthy Lifestyle and Genetics
As what study suggests, the rare condition seems to be primarily affecting those who have a family member who also experienced SADS in the past. Just to be safe, a person should always maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Eating habits also need to be healthy due to the association of most medical professionals in the Philippines with SADS and Acute Pancreatitis. Acute Pancreatitis claims a lot of lives in the country, and the condition seems to happen to men who sleep immediately after having excessive amounts of food and alcoholic beverages.
Here are some more health tips on how to lessen the chances of SADS from happening.
- Avoid eating a lot of food right after going to bed.
- Don’t engage in binge drinking.
- Do not exercise 1 hour or 30 minutes before going bed.
- Maintain a healthy diet and avoid food with high sugar content.
- Avoid greasy food as it may also cause cholecystitis or the inflammation of the gallbladder.
- Exercise properly throughout the day to prevent cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and high blood pressure from developing.
Takeaway
SADS or Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome is a terrifying condition which primarily affects healthy men, causing a sudden and unexplained death during sleep. The cause of SADS is unknown and is controversial due to the links that it has with cultural beliefs and mysticism that may sound outlandish for some.
Although it does not state the cause of SADS, a more scientific approach tells people that SADS is mostly affecting individuals with a particular genetic build, mostly those from Asian countries such as the Philippines, Japan, Thailand, etc.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for SADS. A lot of healthy alternatives such as exercising, an active lifestyle, healthy diets, and healthy eating habits significantly reduce the chances of SADS from happening.