Overview

• Prinz Harald von Hohenzollern’s sudden cardiac arrest on June 26 has raised public awareness of undiagnosed heart disease risks.
• About 65,000 Germans die each year from sudden cardiac death, with roughly three quarters of cases linked to undetected coronary heart disease.
• Symptoms such as chest discomfort, breathlessness and irregular heartbeat can precede an event by days or weeks, alongside lesser-known oral signs like bleeding gums and loose teeth.
• A Robert Koch-Institut survey found one in five adults aged 35–69 faces a high ten-year risk of heart attack or stroke, yet many underestimate their vulnerability.
• Experts advise regular screenings for those over 40, immediate CPR at 100–120 compressions per minute and AED use to boost survival chances.