In a statement, his family confirmed the death of comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried this week after a long illness.
“In addition to being the comics’ most famous voice, Gilbert has been a husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please continue to laugh as loudly as possible in Gilbert’s honor,” the statement, Shared on Gottfried’s Twitter account, Tuesday said.
Gottfried died of recurrent ventricular tachycardia caused by type 2 muscular dystrophy, said his friend and publicist Glenn Schwartz.
But what is muscular dystrophy? What is ventricular tachycardia? Here’s what you need to know about the state of your heart rhythm:
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What is ventricular tachycardia? What are the symptoms?
Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rhythm problem, or irregular heartbeat, caused by “irregular electrical signals in the lower chambers of the heart,” according to the Mayo Clinic. A person’s heart usually beats 60 to 100 times per minute while at rest, but a person with ventricular tachycardia can see 100 or more beats per minute.
A rapid heartbeat can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood to the body. Sometimes episodes of the condition can last only a few seconds, but longer episodes can be life-threatening. The condition can also cause cardiac arrest.
Symptoms during an episode of ventricular tachycardia can include chest pain, dizziness, palpitations, lightheadedness, and shortness of breath. But more serious attacks can cause fainting, loss of consciousness, and cardiac arrest.
What is type 2 muscular dystrophy?
Muscular dystrophy type II is “an inherited muscular dystrophy that affects muscles and other body systems,” according to the National Institutes of Health. This usually involves muscle tension, weakness, pain and stiffness.
Symptoms usually begin during your twenties or thirties. They can include the inability to relax certain muscles after using them, slurred speech and more. Less common symptoms include abnormalities in the electrical signals that control the heartbeat, cataracts, and diabetes.
How is ventricular tachycardia treated?
There are some treatment options for patients with ventricular tachycardia, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. One option is radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that destroys cells that could be causing the condition. However, it is less effective in people with structural heart disease.
An implantable pacemaker is another option, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The device sends an electrical pulse to the heart to “reset a dangerously irregular heartbeat”. Patients may also be able to take several medications.
According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, treatment may not be necessary if the person does not have underlying heart disease and the attacks have not lasted for a long time.
What can put a person at risk of developing ventricular tachycardia?
Any condition that stresses the heart or damages heart tissue can increase a person’s risk of developing ventricular tachycardia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
But there are several factors that can contribute to heart signaling problems and be related to ventricular tachycardia. These factors include a previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, use of steroids, other heart conditions that have caused scarring of heart tissue, and more.
Contributing: Edward Segara