A HEARTBROKEN family have paid tribute to their “vibrant” daughter, 20, who died suddenly.
Poppy Eagle, from Washington, in Tyne and Wear, died on August 7 this year after her heart stopped, despite no known history of health problems.
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The fashion student had come home for the summer before tragedy struck.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Poppy could not be saved.
Poppy left behind four siblings and devastated parents Vicki and Peter.
Her family have since created the Poppy’s Light Foundation, which aims to help cardiac screening for children and young people.
They are hoping to prevent future deaths as they believe Poppy could have been saved if she had gone through screening.
Poppy’s Mum Vicki told ChronicleLive: “Poppy’s Light fundraising has been such a success and there’s a real comfort in that.
“What we have found is that there is really not a great deal of support around for bereaved children.
“Poppy was such a loving person, so vibrant, so full of light.
“So the charity is a way of keeping that light shining while doing something that can support other children.”
The family have a £25,000 fundraising target and Vicki said “the whole community” have been pulling together to support them.
Peter, one of Poppy’s brothers and other dads are setting off to climb Kilamanjaro next month to raise donations.
Sudden adult death syndrome, which is also known as Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome (SADS), causes a fatal cardiac arrest with no prior warning of heart trouble.
The syndrome can strike at any age and can affect those who are fit and healthy.
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS)
Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) are genetic heart conditions that can cause sudden death in young, apparently healthy, people.
Although symptoms vary somewhat among the different types of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, common symptoms include:
- Fainting or having a seizure while exercising, excited or afraid.
- Chest pain during exercise.
- Shortness of breath while exercising.
Types of SADS conditions
- Brugada syndrome
- Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT)
- Long QT syndrome
- Short QT syndrome
- Timothy syndrome
- Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Treatments vary depending on the type of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.
If someone in your family has sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, check with your healthcare provider about having others in your family tested for the genetic mutation.
They can help you figure out who should get tested.
Having family members who know how to do CPR and have an automatic external defibrillator (AED) at home can help reduce risk.
At-home test reveals your risk of having a sudden heart attack in just 5 minutes
By Isabel Shaw
SWEDISH scientists created a questionnaire that rapidly identifies people at high risk with the same accuracy as a GP checkup.
Research shows that it has the same level of precision as blood tests and blood pressure measurements.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, uses data from the SCAPIS population group, based at the University of Gothenburg.
The DIY test consists of 14 questions that take five to eight minutes to answer.
The questions relate to factors including age, gender, weight, waist circumference, smoking, high blood pressure, family history of cardiovascular disease, high blood fats and diabetes.
By combining information from the responses in a special algorithm, the home test can detect 65 per cent of people at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the study.
The NHS has also started rolling out a DIY kits which can reveal if you’re at risk of a deadly heart problem.
The tests, which eligible people can pick up from their GP, estimate the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years.
It also gives patients a cholesterol reading, estimates their heart age, and calculates a body mass index (BMI) score.
People between the ages of 40 and 74 who are not currently on statins or blood pressure medication can order the tests for free from their doctor.
PocDoc, the kit’s manufacturer, said taking the test and sending your results to the NHS can all be done within nine minutes.
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