Yesterday,
a topic about sudden cardiac death topped the Weibo trending list.
In recent years, news of sudden deaths caused by cardiac arrest has emerged frequently, sounding the alarm for public health time and again. How can we scientifically prevent sudden cardiac death and reduce the risk of its occurrence? What physical signals are actually giving us early warnings?
What is heart-related disease? It is not far away from us
Jiang Shaohua, Deputy Director of the Emergency Medicine Department at Hainan Cancer Hospital, stated that cardiac diseases, in simple terms, refer to various conditions originating from the heart itself, encompassing a range of illnesses from coronary heart disease and cardiomyopathy to arrhythmias and heart failure. The term "sudden cardiac death," which we often mention, represents one of the most perilous outcomes of such diseases - the heart abruptly ceases to pump blood effectively, leading to a loss of blood supply to organs throughout the body within minutes. If prompt treatment is not administered, life can be rapidly extinguished.
Many people mistakenly believe that sudden cardiac death is an "unexpected event with no warning signs." However, in reality, the vast majority of sudden cardiac deaths stem from long-neglected heart issues, which are the inevitable result of repeatedly ignoring the early warning signals emitted by the body.
Will there be any physical symptoms warning before the onset of the disease? Sudden death is never a sudden occurrence
When many people hear about "sudden death of someone," they often say, "He was in good health, how could he just pass away so suddenly?" However, in reality, over 90% of sudden cardiac deaths had warning signs in the body one month or even longer before the onset of the disease. It's just that these signals are too subtle and can easily be dismissed as "being tired" or "not getting enough rest.".
One month, one week, and one hour before the onset of the disease, the body may exhibit some atypical symptoms. Timely recognition can save lives!
One
month before the onset: anxiety and insomnia, significant decrease in physical
strength, feeling of throat tightness, chest tightness, and sweating after
running 100 meters or climbing 2 or 3 floors.
One
week before onset: Half of the patients may experience chest tightness,
fatigue, nausea, toothache, shoulder pain, back pain, etc., with the pain
occurring in the area between the mouth and navel.
1 hour before onset: The frequency and severity of the aforementioned symptoms increase, and syncope or convulsions may occur.
When the disease occurs: the chest feels like a heavy stone pressing down, with a squeezing sensation, accompanied by nausea, sweating, and breathlessness. In case of cardiac arrest, the golden time for rescue is only 4 minutes.
Compared to the elderly population, sudden death in the youth is more perilous. It exhibits three characteristics: absence of a clear history of heart disease, subtle warning symptoms, and rapid progression of the condition.
The following groups of people should be particularly vigilant about the risk of heart-related diseases:
01
Individuals who work under long-term high pressure: People like Mr. Zhang Xuefeng, who frequently stay up late, work at high intensity, and experience high mental tension, are at high risk of sudden cardiac death. Stress can cause the sympathetic nervous system to remain continuously excited, leading to increased blood pressure and heart rate, which exacerbates the burden on the heart.
02
Individuals with a family history: If there is a history of premature heart disease (in males <55 years old, and in females <65 years old) or sudden death in direct relatives, your risk of developing the disease will be significantly elevated, necessitating earlier screening.
03
"Three highs" population: Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes are the main risk factors for coronary heart disease, which can accelerate vascular sclerosis and form plaques. Once the plaques rupture, myocardial infarction will occur.
04
Individuals with unhealthy lifestyle habits: Long-term smoking, excessive drinking, sedentary behavior, overeating, and obesity all progressively erode heart health. Smoking damages the vascular endothelium, alcohol poisons the myocardium, and prolonged sitting leads to poor blood circulation.
05
Individuals with previous heart conditions: Those who have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, or have a history of myocarditis or myocardial infarction are all at high risk of sudden death and need to strictly follow medical advice for treatment and follow-up.
In the face of sudden cardiac death, prevention and emergency treatment are crucial
The golden time for rescuing sudden cardiac death is only 4-6 minutes, and the survival rate decreases by 10% for every 1 minute of delay. However, if we can do a good job in prevention and first aid, we can minimize the risk and save lives.
Prevention is the most effective means to combat cardio-related diseases. The core lies in managing lifestyle, undergoing regular physical examinations, and paying attention to early warning signals
1. Maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid staying up late;
2. Eat reasonably, with a focus on light and bland foods;
3. Exercise moderately and gradually;
4. Quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and stay away from irritants;
5. Manage emotions and learn to relieve stress;
6. Regular physical examination, early screening and early treatment:
At least one comprehensive physical examination should be conducted every year, including blood pressure, blood lipids, blood glucose, electrocardiogram (ECG), and other tests. High-risk groups should undergo additional specialized examinations such as echocardiography, dynamic electrocardiogram, and computed tomography angiography (CTA) to promptly detect potential issues.
Master first aid skills: seize the golden 4 minutes
If someone around you suddenly dies of cardiac causes, don't panic. Remember this "three-step emergency treatment method" and you may be able to save a life:
STEP 1
Make an immediate judgment
Tap the patient on the shoulder and shout loudly, "Are you okay?" If there is no response, no breathing, or only sighing-like breathing, immediately diagnose it as cardiac arrest.
STEP 2
Emergency call
Ask the people around you to immediately call 120 and clearly state, "Someone has sudden cardiac arrest, the address is XX." Meanwhile, ask someone to look for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) nearby.
STEP 3
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Have the patient lie on their back on a flat and hard surface. Kneel beside the patient, place your hands together at the midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples, and press down vertically with a depth of 5-6 centimeters at a rate of 100-120 times per minute. Do not bend your arms when pressing, ensuring that the chest fully rebounds. For every 30 compressions, perform 2 artificial breaths (tilt the head back, lift the chin to open the airway, pinch the nose, and blow into the mouth), continuing this cycle until professional assistance or an AED arrives.
May every beating heart be treated with gentleness; may everyone who strives to live a good life be safe and healthy.