A ‘FIT and healthy’ young man died suddenly without warning after taking a nap.
Jono Stead, 27, from Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, lost his life on December 14, 2022, because of an undiagnosed heart condition.
The sport-loving accountant had recently started his own business and was due to get married before the sudden tragedy.
His parents Dave and Karen and sister Becky are now telling his story to raise awareness of hidden heart conditions.
Dave said: “Jono had always seemed so fit and healthy and was no different on that day.
“He had spoken to his mum in the afternoon and finished by saying he was going to catch up on a couple of hours sleep.
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“Tragically only 45 minutes later his heart, suddenly and with no warning, stopped beating.
“We are so blessed to have had such a wonderful son and brother for Bex and proud of everything he achieved in only 27 years.
“So, as a family we have pledged to continue his drive and enthusiasm for life by raising money to hold screening events for 14- to 35-year-olds in the local Driffield area.”
Jono died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), which affects around one in 500 Brits, according to the British Heart Foundation.
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It causes the muscular wall of the heart to become thickened, making it stiffer and less able to pump blood around the body.
The condition has few noticeable symptoms and many people live with it undiagnosed, without it affecting their lives.
However, it can cause chest pain, light-headedness, fainting, palpitations and shortness of breath.
Jono had always appeared fit and healthy, as he did on the day he tragically died.
He spoke to his mum in the afternoon and said he was going to catch up on a few hours of sleep.
His heart stopped beating suddenly just 45 minutes later.
Every week in the UK, 12 ‘apparently’ fit and healthy people under 35 die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.
In 80 per cent of cases, there will have been no signs or symptoms, which is why Cardiac Risk in the Young’s (CRY) believes screening is so vitally important.
The charity currently tests around 25,000 young people every year aged 14-35, at no cost to the individual when they register.
CRY’s screening model involves a quick, diagnostic procedure called an electrocardiogram (ECG).
If a young person is found to have an abnormality, CRY will also conduct an echocardiogram (ultrasound) on the same day for no additional charge.
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CRY also funds pioneering research into the conditions that can cause young sudden cardiac death as well as providing a unique bereavement support network for all families who have been affected.
Dave and Karen have set up a Memorial Fund with CRY for Jono.
What are the symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Common symptoms of HCM include:
- chest pain
- light headedness and fainting
- palpitations
- shortness of breath.
Most people with HCM have no symptoms or feel stable throughout their life.
However, others do have symptoms.
Some people find that their symptoms worsen in later life.
Source: British Heart Foundation
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