Sudden Cardiac Arrest: unexpected…unpredictable…but not unpreventable.

Each year, more than 350,000 Americans suffer from an out-of-hospital Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Not to be confused with a heart attack, SCA an abrupt and unexpected heart malfunction, which causes the heart to suddenly stop beating. Sudden Cardiac Arrest appears to be completely unpredictable – striking anyone, anywhere, anytime.

It can happen to anyone – even active, young Adults. It happened to former Appalachian State standout basketball player Omar Carter at a semi-professional game as he sprinted down the court on a fast break.  He collapsed on his way to the basket, suffering from a 13-minute Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), leaving him with less than a 10 percent chance of survival. At age 25, Omar was the fittest of athletes, having just finished a professional season in the Dominican Republic, with big future plans for his career.

Grateful to be alive, Omar is now taking action to let people know that Sudden Cardiac Arrest doesn’t have to result in death, because there are ways to prevent and treat this potential problem. Most importantly, there is a simple screening that all adults should ask for to identify SCA risk factors. Screening is critical because there are treatment options for those who may be at risk for SCA.

Omar recently joined us along with Dr. Rohit Mehta, his physician and a leading cardiologist at Carolinas HealthCare System’s Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, to share their stories, provide information about SCA and discuss the importance of screening and prevention, as well as current treatment options.

sudden Cardiac Arrest

Take a look at the interview below.

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To learn more, visit: http://www.sicdsystem.com

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Meet Our Guests:

 

Omar Carter

At age 25, the former Appalachian State standout basketball player was at the height of his game, having just returned to the U.S. from a professional season in the Dominican Republic with big future plans for his career. On July 11, 2013, he took to the court again at a semi-professional game in his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. But little did he know his life was about to change. As he sprinted down the court on a fast break, Omar collapsed, suffering from a 13-minute sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), leaving him with less than a 10 percent chance of survival. Following on-site cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and several shocks to his heart by an automated external defibrillator, Omar miraculously survived. After consulting with a cardiologist, Omar received a Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator, a device surgically implanted just underneath the skin to provide continuous protection from the risk of another SCA. 

He now leads a normal life and has turned his passion of helping others into action by making it his life mission to prevent any other family from losing a loved one due to a lack of SCA awareness or education about available screenings and treatment, even for young, active, seemingly healthy adults. In 2014, he founded the Omar Carter Foundation to train athletes and families in CPR and the use of AEDs and to educate the public about SCA.

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sudden cardiac arrest

Dr. Rohit Mehta

Rohit Mehta, MD, FACC, HFRS, has served patients at Carolinas HealthCare System’s Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute since 2008 as a cardiac electrophysiologist. He graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Duke University and received his M.D. from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Mehta completed his residency in internal medicine, in addition to his fellowships in cardiology and electrophysiology from Ohio State University. He has been board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiac electrophysiology, is a member of several professional organizations, and has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications.

In addition to his clinical accomplishments, Dr. Mehta established the “Walk with a Doc” program at Sanger, which provides a forum for patients to engage with their doctors outside of a traditional hospital setting. The monthly, mile-long walks are held in Freedom Park and feature a rotating physician speaker. Dr. Mehta’s other specialties include arrhythmias, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac ablation and device implantation.

Sudden cardiac arrest