Drinking white wine and Champagne, eating more fruit and keeping waistlines slim could drive down the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, according to new research.

Experts suggested that thousands of cardiac arrests - where the heart suddenly stops beating - could be prevented by tackling health and lifestyle issues.

People who were more educated also seemed less prone to cardiac arrest, the study, published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, suggested, while poor sleep patterns and a lack of exercise could be detrimental.

The study identified 56 risk factors associated with sudden cardiac arrest and found up to 63 per cent of cases might be avoidable.

"As expected, lifestyles account for the most burden," the researchers said, adding: "Public awareness campaigns should be further encouraged to promote lifestyle interventions."

The study looked at 502,094 middle-to-older aged people included in the UK Biobank of data.

Of these, 3147 people suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a typical follow-up period of 13.8 years.

The 56 risk factors identified by researchers including lifestyle factors, socio-economic status, and the local environment, such as exposure to air pollution.

The authors concluded that between 40 per cent and 63 per cent of sudden cardiac arrest cases may be avoidable when looking at all 56 risk factors.

For lifestyle factors, researchers found that a higher consumption of Champagne and/or white wine and fruit intake protected against cardiac arrest, while "fed-up" feelings, high body mass indexes (BMIs) and arm fat mass, high blood pressure, and lower education level all increased the risk.

Lead investigator, Dr Huihuan Luo from Fudan University in Shanghai, said: "The study found significant associations between various modifiable factors and sudden cardiac arrest, with lifestyle changes being the most impactful in preventing cases."

In an accompanying editorial, Nicholas Grubic from the University of Toronto, and Dakota Gustafson from Queen's University in Ontario, said: "One of the study's most intriguing findings is the cardioprotective effect associated with Champagne and white wine consumption, questioning long-held assumptions about the specificity of red wine's cardioprotective properties.

"Research on the underlying mechanisms remains unclear, but these findings reinforce the idea that the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption may be more complex than previously assumed."

A cardiac arrest is caused by a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), which happens when the electrical system in the heart fails to work.