How To Find Out Whether One Can End Up With Brugada Syndrome?

A person who has a positive family history should not only go for an ECG but also request for some very sensitive DNA-based tests.

As a matter of fact, all immediate male and female relatives of someone who has had an unexplained and unexpected sudden death should have such tests done to find out if they have inherited similar mutations. Though Brugada syndrome is more common among males, this does not mean that females will be spared.

In 2004, a study conducted by a group of researchers from New York, Spain and other regions revealed that the immediate period after giving birth to a baby seems to be particularly risky for affect women.

Once the tests confirm a person is at risk, preventive measures should be initiated. The potential candidate may have to take drugs known as beta blockers, which modulate the heart rhythm. If necessary, pacemakers or cardiac defibrillators could be implanted to prevent dangerous heart rhythms from taking over. The cardiac defibrillators are devices that are capable of delivering an electric shock to reset the ticker when situation requires.

Is Brugada Syndrome A Common Disease?

Brugada syndrome is used to describe a mysterious condition that kills victims in their sleep because of spontaneous abnormal heart rhythms but it is now regarded as an inheritable heart condition.

The illness is rare. Studies made by Japanese found that only 0.05 percent to 0.06 percent of adults have ECGs that are compatible with a diagnosis of Brugada syndrome.

Research conducted outside Japan also showed that Brugada syndrome is responsible for about 4 percent to 12 percent of unexpected sudden deaths.

Persons who do not have an ECG compatible with Brugada syndrome, a history of fainting spells or a family history of sudden unexpected nocturnal deaths, should not worry too much as they are probably not at risk.