FAQ

Many people who experience sudden cardiac arrest have no prior diagnosis — which is part of what makes it so devastating. However, there are warning signs that should always be taken seriously and investigated:

Unexplained fainting, particularly during or immediately after exercise, or in response to a sudden loud noise or fright.

Unexplained seizures that your doctor has not been able to explain with a neurological cause.

Palpitations — a racing, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat — that come on during physical activity.

Significant breathlessness or dizziness during exercise that seems disproportionate to the effort.

A family history of young sudden death — anyone in your family who died suddenly and unexpectedly under the age of 40, or who was found to have an inherited heart condition.

A known inherited cardiac condition in a close relative, even if you have no symptoms yourself.

If any of these apply to you or a family member, do not wait. Speak to your GP about a referral to a cardiologist, or ask specifically about a referral to an inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) clinic. Many inherited heart conditions are highly treatable when identified early.

Category: Cardiac Arrest

An ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) is a small device implanted under the skin, typically near the collarbone. It monitors your heart rhythm continuously and, if it detects a life-threatening arrhythmia, delivers a shock or pacing therapy to restore a normal rhythm. It works automatically — you do not need to do anything for it to act.

Not everyone with a heart condition needs an ICD. Whether one is appropriate depends on your specific diagnosis, your individual risk of a dangerous arrhythmia, and a detailed assessment by a specialist cardiologist.

ICDs are commonly considered for people who have already survived a cardiac arrest, and for some people assessed as being at high risk due to conditions including Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Brugada Syndrome, CPVT, Long QT Syndrome, ARVC, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy. The decision is always individual — having one of these conditions does not automatically mean you need an ICD.

If you have been told you may need an ICD and want to understand the decision better, ask your specialist to walk through the reasons and what the alternatives are.

Category: Implantable Devices

Having an inherited heart condition does not mean you will experience a cardiac arrest. It means you need the right specialist care, regular monitoring, and an informed conversation with your cardiologist about your personal risk profile.

Many people live long, full lives with conditions such as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), Long QT Syndrome, Brugada Syndrome, CPVT, ARVC, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy — particularly when they are well managed. Understanding your specific triggers, adhering to any activity guidance, and taking prescribed medication consistently all make a significant difference.

Key steps if you have an inherited heart condition:

Know your triggers. Some conditions are provoked by exercise; others by sleep, sudden noise, or fever. Ask your cardiologist specifically what yours are.

Ask about treatment options. Medication, an ICD, catheter ablation, or a combination may all be relevant depending on your condition and risk.

Ensure your family is screened. Many inherited cardiac conditions can pass silently through families. First-degree relatives should be assessed even if they have no symptoms.

If you feel your condition is not being adequately monitored, ask your GP for a referral to an inherited cardiac conditions (ICC) clinic.

Category: Cardiac Arrest

Brugada Syndrome is an inherited heart condition in which the heart’s electrical system malfunctions despite the heart having a normal structure. It is caused by mutations affecting sodium channels in heart cells — most commonly in the SCN5A gene — and produces a characteristic pattern on an ECG. People with Brugada Syndrome are at risk of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), which can cause sudden cardiac arrest, most often at rest or during sleep.

Brugada Syndrome is more common in men and in people of South-East Asian descent. It may be diagnosed after an unexplained cardiac arrest, after an abnormal ECG is found incidentally, or through family screening following a diagnosis in a relative.

The main treatment for those considered at high risk is an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator), which can detect and terminate life-threatening arrhythmias. Certain medications and substances — including some antidepressants, sodium channel-blocking drugs, and large amounts of alcohol — can trigger arrhythmias in Brugada Syndrome and should be discussed with your cardiologist.

Because Brugada Syndrome is inherited, first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) of anyone diagnosed should be offered cardiac screening.

Category: Inherited Conditions