The news of the demise of
Nigerian female musician, 30-
year-old Susan Harvey (Goldie),
is no longer new. What is new,
however, is the suddenness,
which has left many people
wondering what might have led
to her death. What more, being a
public figure, Goldie lived
virtually all her life before the
camera. She appeared healthy
enough and her fans had no
inkling that she ever had any
health issue.
Many reasons - albeit unofficial - has
been adduced for her death. For one,
an artiste friend of hers, Denrele
Edun, who reportedly rushed her to
the hospital when she collapsed
suddenly upon arrival from the United
States where she had attended the
Grammy Awards, said she died of
pneumonia. The doctors claimed that
she died before arrival at the
Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island,
Lagos and therefore could not
volunteer the cause of death. While
there has also been a reference to
blood clot, an unidentified source
said she died of drug overdose, which
her British widower, Andrew, has
denied.
Whatever was the cause of Goldie's
death, one thing is certain: she died
suddenly. According to Consultant
Cardiologist in private practice in
Lagos, Dr. Victor Adeleke, Sudden
Adult Death Syndrome or Sudden
Death Syndrome is an umbrella term
used for the many different causes
of cardiac arrest in young people
from their teens to early 30s. He
explains that inheritance may be a
factor, depending on the underlying
syndrome, while some conditions are
due to genetic disorders and some
are acquired as a result of exposure
to certain medications.
CRY(Cardial risk in the Young) says
the deaths are usually non-traumatic,
non-violent, unexpected occurrences
resulting from cardiac arrest within
as little as six hours of previously
witnessed normal health Worse still,
physicians say, sometimes, there are
no warning signs but in other cases,
people can experience dizziness or
fainting spells. "There may also be
sudden loss of consciousness; and
death often occurs during physical
exercise or emotional upset," they
say.
Experts say SADS is now becoming
widely recognised as a condition, and
that there's the need for more
research into why and how it
happens. They also say there is a
simple way to diagnose most of the
abnormalities that can lead to sudden
death. "This is by having an ECG
test," they advise. Adeleke says an
ECG is used to measure the rate and
regularity of heartbeats, for
diagnosis of heart abnormalities, as
well as the size and position of the
chambers. "It reveals the presence
of any damage to the heart, and the
effects of drugs or devices used to
regulate the heart." He says the test
is quick, painless and affordable; and
that, for extra clarity, an
echocardiogram (ultrasound scan of
the heart) can be taken if the doctor
deems it necessary. Again, he says, it
is advisable for family members to
undergo ECG screening if there have
been any young person's sudden
death in the family, or if a young
family member is suffering from
symptoms of chest pain that may be
exercise-related, breathlessness,
palpitations, dizziness or fainting.
Tips to beat sudden death
Quit smoking.
Improve cholesterol levels.
Control high blood pressure.
Get active and do exercises.
Eat right.
Achieve and maintain a healthy
weight.
Manage stress and anger.
Control diabetes.