The death of a victim of coronary heart attack within 24 h after the appearance of symptoms.
Death without any identifiable cause, not preceded by an illness.
An unexpected death occurring from any cause other than violence or trauma. Sudden deaths may be instantaneous or may happen over a period of minutes or hours. Examples include sudden death from a cardiac arrhythmia and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), in which a baby dies unexpectedly for reasons that cannot be explained, even following an autopsy.
If deaths from accidents are excluded, this term means the unexpected death of an apparently healthy person. Cardiac arrest is the most common cause of sudden death. Older people (35 years or above) who suffer cardiac arrest commonly have coronary artery disease with restriction or stoppage of blood supply to part of the heart which causes infarction (heart attack). Irregularity of the heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia) is another cause. myocarditis, pneumonia and stroke can also result in sudden death, as can asthma, anaphylactic shock, ruptured. aortic aneurysm, and suicide, the incidence of which is rising, especially among young people, and is over 4,000 a year in the UK.
Death occurring unexpectedly and instantaneously or within 1 hr of the onset of symptoms in a patient with or without known pre-existing heart disease. Sudden death due to cardiac conditions occurs in the U.S. at the rate of one a minute. It may be caused by cardiovascular conditions, including ischemic heart disease, aortic stenosis, coronary embolism, myocarditis, ruptured or dissecting aortic aneurysm, Stokes-Adams syndrome, stroke, pulmonary thromboembolism, and other, non cardiovascular-related disorders, such as electrolyte imbalance and drug toxicity.
Untimely demise experienced by an individual who previously exhibited apparent good health is a phenomenon that can catch one by surprise. Among adults, cardiac arrest (the cessation of heartbeats) stands as the most prevalent cause of sudden death. However, sudden demise can also be attributed to cardiomyopathy (a heart muscle ailment) that can strike at any age, often remaining undetected. Additionally, stroke, undiagnosed myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation), or pneumonia can unexpectedly lead to sudden death. Although less common, severe allergic reactions known as anaphylactic shock, severe asthma attacks, and instances of suicide can also result in sudden fatality.
In the case of infants, unanticipated deaths are referred to as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death.
The abrupt demise of an individual, regardless of age, necessitates reporting to the coroner, who determines whether an autopsy (postmortem examination) is warranted.