This week BRG is helping the Heart Rhythm Society; in partnership with Shaun Robinson, who you may know from Access Hollywood, launch the “Arrest the Risk” awareness campaign. The campaign is designed to teach people about Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), a leading cause of death in the U.S., and overcome barriers to diagnosis and treatment.

National Survey

HRS and BRG worked with Ipsos Healthcare to understand consumer and physician perception of SCA. What is the impact of SCA? Where are the disparities in care?

What the survey found was that there are significant perception gaps between healthcare providers and consumers when it comes to understanding the condition, its symptoms, risk factors and treatments. Consider this:

• One in four people were able to correctly identify SCA.
• Less than 10 percent of physicians are aware that 95 percent of SCA events end in death.
• Three in five consumers with no self-reported prior heart disease diagnosis who report experiencing heart disease symptoms do not visit the doctor as a result of their symptoms.
• Ninety percent of African Americans say their doctor has not talked to them about their risk for SCA.
• Physicians reported that the most likely patient to be referred to a specialist for SCA screening is a Caucasian, male, age 65 to 74, who has insurance, which is not the most likely patient to suffer from SCA.

You can see all of the survey results here and here.

What does this mean for you?

Understand that SCA is not a heart attack

Think about the human heart as a house. In a house, there are many systems that keep it running properly including an electrical and plumbing system. In a heart, there are also different systems that keep it beating correctly. The heart’s electrical system is what is affected when SCA occurs.

During SCA, the heart stops beating and no blood is pumped to the rest of the body. This could be compared to losing electricity in your house. The heart “electricity” must be turned back on, typically through electrical shock.

There are steps you should take to prevent and treat SCA

Facing SCA head on can save your life. Talk to your doctor to help you assess your risk.

• If you have a history of heart failure in your family or if you personally have heart issues, ask your doctor about SCA during your next appointment.
• Understand the risk factors including abnormal heart rhythms, unexplained fainting, and more.
• If you have symptoms of SCA your doctor may treat you with a medical device.

You can make a difference

This morning, Shaun Robinson was featured on Fox & Friends, where she shared her personal connection with SCA and BRG was on hand. We’d like you to take a moment and watch her story too:

We encourage you to share this video with your friends and family on email, Twitter, Facebook – wherever you communicate. SCA impacts many people. Together we can Arrest The Risk!