Written by Dr. Jordi Mercé

Either directly or indirectly, we all know of a case where an otherwise perfectly healthy person has died suddenly, frequently during the practice of sports. Regular physical exercise has a wide range of benefits for your health, but we also know that exercise of high intensity can be a trigger for serious complications in people with heart disease. The problem is that these diseases often go undetected due to their previously asymptomatic nature.

What are the causes of sudden deaths?

Around 80% of cases of sudden deaths are caused by cardiac problems. Among young people, genetic diseases predominate the causes, like cardiomyopathies and channelopathies among others. For those between 30-35 years old, coronary heart disease is the main cause.

How can sudden deaths be prevented?

Our specialist cardiologists explain that the best prevention is an early diagnosis.

The best way to prevent sudden deaths is without a doubt the early diagnosis of the diseases that cause them. A significant and drastic reduction in sudden death rates has been observed in countries that have installed mandatory screening programmes for young people that are physically active in sports.

Why should I get checked?

A cardiological assessment can detect most of these diseases before symptoms occur. For this purpose, there are many simple testing methods used as tools for diagnosis such as the electrocardiogram, the Color Doppler echocardiogram and the stress test. The identification of cardiovascular risk factors and their treatment are also a fundamental part of the prevention of heart disease and its complications.

These are simple, quick preventative measures that you can take to prevent the development of diseases that put you at risk to sudden death. In the consultation with our cardiologists you are in a calm, well-informed environment in which you get the opportunity to ask any questions that you have, in the knowledge that the response will be professional and comprehensively researched.