What are the signs of sudden death that can kill people in a matter of minutes? And how can we prevent it?

In recent years, there have been more and more news reports about young people suffering from heart disease, and the proportion of deaths in China due to sudden heart disease has also increased. Studies have found that many patients who died of sudden heart disease have one thing in common: they had symptoms in the early stages, but they did not pay attention to them and did not get help in time, thus losing their lives.

So how can we get more effective treatment when the disease breaks out?

01 How to identify symptoms?

1) Disease discovery

The most common symptom of coronary heart disease is frequent chest pain or discomfort that occurs during activity, after eating, or at other specific times, and may spread to the shoulders, arms, back, neck, or jaw. Other symptoms include chest tightness, numbness, fullness, or a feeling of pressure in the chest [1]. Angina, shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are signs of a heart attack or myocardial infarction and require prompt medical attention.

Women may experience different symptoms than men, with the most common symptom reported by women being shortness of breath.[2] Other symptoms more common in women than in men are extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, indigestion, and anxiety, so pay more attention to these prodromal symptoms.

2) Ask the patient

The patient experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and restlessness, or has a history of heart disease.

02 Temporary first aid methods

1) Rest

When a patient shows mild symptoms of heart disease, let him sit or lie down in a quiet environment to rest and keep him calm. If the temperature is cold, you can cover him with a blanket or coat.

2) Taking medication

Chew and swallow the aspirin while you wait for emergency help. Aspirin helps prevent blood clotting. Taking it during a heart attack can reduce heart damage. Do not take aspirin if you are allergic to it or have been told not to take it by your doctor.

If you think you are having a heart attack and have been prescribed nitroglycerin, take it as directed while you wait for emergency medical help.

3) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

If the person is unconscious and their heart and breathing have stopped, start CPR. Apply firm, rapid compressions at a fairly fast tempo in the center of the person's chest -- about 100 to 120 compressions per minute .

If you have an automated external defibrillator (AED), follow the device's instructions.

4) Seek medical attention promptly

If any of the following situations occur, you can call 120 emergency number immediately or go to the hospital for help:

(1) Chest pain, pressure, or tightness, or a squeezing or soreness in the center of the chest.

(2) Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulders, arms, back, neck, jaw, teeth, or upper abdomen.

(3) Nausea, indigestion, heartburn, or abdominal pain.

(4) Shortness of breath.

(5) Dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting.

(6) Profuse sweating.

03 How to prevent coronary heart disease?

To prevent coronary heart disease, we need to know the causes. Risk factors for coronary heart disease include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, lack of exercise, obesity, high cholesterol, poor diet, depression and alcohol abuse. Therefore, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking are all effective ways to prevent coronary heart disease[3].

In addition, about half of CHD cases are related to genetics. Therefore, if a family member has CHD, the individual should pay more attention to maintaining good living habits and undergo regular physical examinations [4].

04 Special reminder!

Research suggests that consuming trans fats (often found in hydrogenated products such as margarine) can lead to atherosclerosis and increase the risk of coronary artery disease [5].

If you feel symptoms of coronary heart disease such as chest pain, try not to drive yourself to the doctor, because your condition may worsen and driving yourself will put you and others in danger.

References

[1] KontosMC, Diercks DB, Kirk JD (March 2010). "Emergency department and office-based evaluation of patients with chest pain". Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 85 (3): 284–99.

[2] McSweeneyJC, O'Sullivan P, Cleves MA, Lefler LL, Cody M, Moser DK, et al. (January2010). "Racial differences in women's prodromal and acute symptoms of myocardial infarction". American Journal of Critical Care. 19 (1): 63–73.

[3] MehtaPK, Wei J, Wenger NK (February 2015). "Ischemic heart disease in women: afocus on risk factors". Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine. 25 (2): 140–51.

[4]Dai X, Wiernek S, Evans JP, Runge MS (January 2016). "Genetics of coronaryartery disease and myocardial infarction". World Journal of Cardiology. 8(1): 1–23.

[5]MozaffarianD, Katan MB, Ascherio A, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC (April 2006). "Transfatty acids and cardiovascular disease". The New England Journal ofMedicine. 354 (15): 1601–13.