AEMCA Practice Exam

What is best defined as sudden cardiac death?

1. Heart attack due to clogged arteries

2. Sudden change in the heart's electrical rhythm

3. Heart failure following a major cardiac event

4. Death from coronary artery disease

The correct answer is: Sudden change in the heart's electrical rhythm

Sudden cardiac death is best defined as a sudden change in the heart's electrical rhythm. This phenomenon occurs when the electrical signals that coordinate the heartbeats become erratic, resulting in a loss of effective blood circulation. Such electrical disturbances can lead to arrhythmias, particularly ventricular fibrillation, which can quickly cause the heart to stop beating effectively. While heart attacks due to clogged arteries and death from coronary artery disease are related to heart problems, they are not synonymous with the immediate and abrupt nature of sudden cardiac death. Heart failure following a major cardiac event refers to a condition that usually develops over time, rather than being an instantaneous occurrence. Therefore, the essence of sudden cardiac death lies in the acute disruption of the heart's electrical system, making the correct definition a sudden change in the heart's electrical rhythm.