April 1, 2025
The Silent Killer: Half of Sudden Cardiac Deaths Occur Without Warning
Are You at Risk?
Are You at Risk?
Imagine feeling completely healthy—no diagnosed heart disease, no warnings from your doctor—only to suffer a sudden and fatal cardiac event.
It sounds unthinkable, yet a nationwide study from Denmark found that almost half of all sudden cardiac deaths happen in people with no prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Published in JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology, the study analysed 50,000 deaths in a single year, identifying 6,851 cases of sudden cardiac death. Alarmingly, 3,046 of those individuals had no known history of CVD.
This means that for many people, the first sign of heart disease is death.
Most people assume that if their cholesterol and blood pressure are "normal," they are safe from heart disease. But this study reveals a dangerous gap in current prevention strategies:
People under 70 years old are just as likely to experience sudden cardiac death as those with a prior diagnosis.
Women are particularly at risk, as their heart disease symptoms are often overlooked or dismissed.
The problem is not that these people were healthy—but that their risk went undetected.
Traditional testing—such as cholesterol panels and blood pressure readings—simply isn’t enough. These basic screenings miss many hidden cardiovascular risks, which can silently progress for years before a catastrophic event occurs.
That’s why a more comprehensive cardiovascular risk panel is essential for truly understanding your heart health.
The truth is, we now have the tools to detect cardiovascular disease before it becomes fatal. Advanced screening can help catch hidden risk factors long before they lead to a crisis.
Instead of relying on outdated, oversimplified tests, everyone over 40 (or younger if at risk) should get a cardiovascular health assessment with these key markers:
By identifying these hidden risks, you can take action to prevent sudden cardiac events before they happen.
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (CIMT) Scan – Measures the thickness of your carotid artery walls to detect early signs of atherosclerosis before plaque buildup becomes dangerous.
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) – A better predictor of heart disease risk than LDL cholesterol alone, as it measures the actual number of artery-clogging particles.
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] – A genetic marker that increases heart disease risk, often missed in standard cholesterol tests.
Fasting Insulin Levels – Even if you don’t have diabetes, high insulin levels are an early sign of metabolic dysfunction, a major driver of heart disease.
Homocysteine Levels – Elevated homocysteine is linked to increased cardiovascular risk, as it contributes to inflammation, arterial damage, and poor blood flow.
We believe prevention is the most powerful tool against heart disease. Our next 6-week intensive heart health coaching programme begins this autumn.
This programme is a personalised journey based on your own lab markers and ultrasound results, designed to help you:
Understand your individual cardiovascular risks with cutting-edge lab testing and imaging
Take actionable steps to improve heart health with expert-led coaching
Receive coaching support to help you implement and sustain meaningful lifestyle changes
Traditional risk assessments are failing thousands of people. Sudden cardiac death is preventable, but only if risk is identified in time.
Get your heart health assessed today.
Consider advanced testing beyond standard cholesterol panels.
Take control of your cardiovascular future.
Secure your place in our upcoming 6-week heart health programme. Let’s make sure your heart health isn’t being ignored.