Estate Planning

Hearts and Valentine's Day

By Hull and Hull LLP

I thought I would end the week by tying a few events from the past week together. Of course, Monday was St. Valentine's Day (I hope you didn't forget), and on Tuesday, I blogged on the odds of dying from certain causes.

A story reported on by KTLA in California seems to tie these two diverse topics together.

According to the story, an 18 year old Welsh woman shared a first kiss with her boyfriend. Moments later, she collapsed and died. Although the exact cause of her death is not known, it is believed that she suffered from a hidden heart rhythm disease brought on by Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome ('SADS'). 

According to the SADS Foundation, each month in the United States, between 250 and 600 young people die suddenly and unexpectedly due to cardiac arrhythmias. As many as 12 in every 5,000 young people may have one of the conditions that can cause sudden cardiac death. Most sudden cardiac deaths are due to hereditary conditions. Most cardiac arrhythmias and structural defects that may cause sudden death are identifiable and treatable.

As with most conditions such as this, education goes a long way towards saving lives. Please visit the Canadian SADS Foundation for details of the warning signs, and other information. 

Do it for someone you love.

Have a great Family Day weekend.

Paul Trudelle

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on February 18, 2011 (boomark / email).