Suffering a sudden cardiac arrest can be fatal, especially without receiving immediate medical treatment, experts say.
Bronny James, the 18-year-old son of NBA star LeBron James, was in stable condition Tuesday after becoming the latest elite athlete to experience the medical emergency, this time during a basketball practice at the University of Southern California.
Still, cardiac arrests in young athletes are relatively rare. One of the most high-profile cases came in January, when the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin suddenly collapsed on the football field. The NFL player returned to practice five months after the near-death experience.
Cardiac arrest can lead to injuries in the brain and internal organs, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. It is different from a heart attack. Here’s what to know: