Black Americans are more likely than whites to experience sudden cardiac arrest, according to a new study.
The study also found that sudden cardiac arrest often occurs at an earlier age in blacks than in whites.
Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system of the heart malfunctions. This causes the heart to beat erratically or to stop beating. As a result, blood isn’t pumped throughout the body.
“Sudden cardiac arrest is significantly higher in black Americans compared to whites, at least twofold higher,” said study researcher Dr. Sumeet Chugh, associate director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles.