The oppressive heat of summer significantly increases the number of sudden death cases, especially among the elderly. The diseases that lead to unexpected death are often cardiovascular, pulmonary, or electrolyte imbalances due to extreme heat…
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| Individuals experiencing sudden death need to know the correct initial first aid (Image: hankooki) |
When a normally healthy person suddenly dies, medicine refers to this as sudden death – an unpredictable rapid death. It occurs within one hour of the first signs of illness, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or extreme fatigue…
There are many causes of sudden death:
Cardiovascular disease: Such as myocardial infarction, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension… These conditions can easily lead to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death. Individuals who suffer from myocardial infarction are ten times more likely to experience sudden death compared to healthy individuals.
Chronic pulmonary disease: Malignant bronchial asthma leading to acute respiratory failure.
Fluid imbalance disorders: Such as severe blood loss, electrolyte imbalances…
Damage to the respiratory center, heart, and brain.
Overreaction of the body: Such as vagal reflex (the nerve controlling the functions of the lungs and stomach).
To date, no expert has definitively stated when a patient with heart failure or myocardial infarction will pass away. Therefore, the best way to prevent sudden death is to treat and mitigate factors that could cause unexpected mortality.
For patients suffering from myocardial infarction, it is crucial to know the correct initial first aid and then call for emergency assistance to get to the hospital. This case must be closely monitored and treated appropriately.
Individuals with hypertension need timely treatment and regular blood pressure checks to prevent hypertensive crises leading to heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death.
Asthma patients should have medication and respiratory aids on hand during severe asthma attacks. In general, individuals with these conditions should know how to monitor their health and carry emergency medication to prepare for potentially dangerous situations.
Even healthy individuals should enhance their knowledge about health protection; any unusual symptoms should prompt a visit to the doctor. It is advisable to have a comprehensive health check-up every 1-2 years (including heart, lungs, blood pressure, and biochemical blood tests), even when feeling healthy.
Individuals who smoke or consume alcohol should quit, as tobacco contains over 4,000 harmful substances. Notably, smoking is one of the leading causes of coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Alcohol raises blood pressure, dilates the heart muscle, and increases the risk of stroke, arrhythmias, and sudden death.
Increasing physical activity also reduces the rates of myocardial infarction and sudden death. Statistics show that manual laborers and those who are physically active tend to have fewer cardiovascular diseases compared to sedentary workers. For those with cardiovascular disease, the best exercise is walking.
Anyone can experience sudden death if unaware of their underlying health issues. Therefore, regular health check-ups are the most effective method for preventing sudden death.
Dr. Nguyen Khac Hien
