Subscribe
21
Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
About me
Chief physician, medical doctor, master's supervisor, graduated from the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, engaged in clinical work for over thirty years.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the integrated treatment of cardiovascular diseases (such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease, arrhythmia, myocarditis, etc.) and blood system diseases (anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, etc.) with both Chinese and Western medicine.
Voices
Does cardiogenic sudden death cause vomiting blood?
Of course, sudden cardiac death is now a very common cause of death. At places like airports and bus stations, we often see reports of such incidents, and many young people are also affected. However, patients experiencing sudden cardiac death generally do not present with symptoms of vomiting blood, as it is caused by cardiac arrest. Vomiting blood is usually associated with conditions such as gastric ulcers leading to severe bleeding, gastric cancer, or cirrhosis leading to rupture of varicose veins at the base of the stomach. The likelihood of vomiting blood occurring in cases of sudden cardiac death is very low, almost nonexistent.
Can cardiogenic sudden death be resuscitated?
If cardiogenic sudden death is promptly rescued, it is possible to save the individual. For example, if we immediately perform on-the-spot rescue after cardiogenic sudden death occurs, administering CPR within 4-6 minutes, then a large number of people can be rescued successfully. Some diseases might not even leave any sequelae. The key lies in the timing of the rescue. We say that time is life. For patients who suffer from cardiogenic sudden death, we must act immediately on the spot, wherever the sudden death occurs, to start the rescue, immediately initiating artificial respiration and external chest compressions.
Is cardiopulmonary resuscitation effective for sudden cardiac death?
Is cardiopulmonary resuscitation useful for sudden cardiac arrest? Of course, it is useful. The emergency measure for sudden cardiac arrest is to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If the patient receives CPR within four minutes, they are very likely to survive. If there is a delay beyond four minutes, the patient’s life might still be prolonged if resuscitated, but they might suffer brain death and potentially become vegetative. Therefore, it is crucial to administer immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a patient experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, as this is the primary method of resuscitation.
What causes cyanosis of the face and lips in sudden cardiac death?
In patients with cardiogenic sudden death, we can see that their lips turn purple, commonly referred to as cyanosis of the lips. Similarly, their faces also turn purple. This primarily results from cardiac arrest caused by cardiogenic sudden death. Once the heart stops beating, the blood supply to the entire body, including the heart, brain, kidneys, peripheral vessels, face, skin, and fingers, is halted. This leads to a state of hypoxia. The purple discoloration (cyanosis) occurs because, after the heart stops, there is no blood flow and no oxygen exchange in the blood, ultimately leading to hypoxia.
The difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction.
Sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction are both types of coronary heart disease; they are classified under coronary heart disease. Sudden cardiac death is mostly caused by extensive myocardial infarction, with some patients experiencing it due to severe arrhythmias leading to sudden death. The primary clinical symptoms of myocardial infarction are typically those of coronary heart disease, including chest tightness, chest pain, and sweating. Sudden cardiac death can be triggered by myocardial infarction, but the two are not the same. Having a myocardial infarction does not necessarily result in sudden death, and myocardial infarction can be alleviated with treatment.
Can an electrocardiogram be used to check for sudden cardiac death?
Can an electrocardiogram (ECG) detect the potential for sudden cardiac death in the future? Sudden cardiac death cannot be detected by an electrocardiogram. An ECG can only identify conditions such as myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, or premature beats occurring at the time of the test. Sudden cardiac death is a sudden cardiac event that definitely cannot be predicted by an ECG. There are some risk factors for sudden cardiac death, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and underlying diseases like coronary heart disease, which make individuals more susceptible to sudden cardiac death. We cannot rely on an ECG to predict it.
Precursors of cardiogenic sudden death during sleep
Before the onset of cardiac arrest during sleep, patients often exhibit symptoms of coronary heart disease such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Often, these individuals do not pay enough attention to the symptoms, do not undergo timely medical examinations at a hospital, and consequently, there is a delay in the treatment of the condition. It is very unfortunate that sudden deaths occur during sleep, possibly due to fatigue, poor rest, and underlying heart disease, which then leads to cardiac arrest. The precursors of such events can vary from person to person; symptoms may include chest tightness and palpitations, among others. Therefore, it is important that we pay attention to these signs.
The difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction
Sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction are both types of coronary heart disease, but they are different from each other. Firstly, having a myocardial infarction does not necessarily result in sudden death. Myocardial damage involves a large area of necrosis in the heart, and the patient may experience symptoms such as chest tightness, shortness of breath, chest pain, and sweating. The main symptom of sudden cardiac death is the abrupt cessation of vital signs, with breathing and pulse disappearing. This condition can be caused by a large and extensive acute myocardial infarction, but it can also be caused by other reasons such as electrolyte disturbances or malignant arrhythmias, which are different causes.
How to Self-Check for Precursors of Cardiogenic Sudden Death
The majority of cases of sudden cardiac death are due to coronary artery atherosclerotic heart disease, causing extensive myocardial infarction, hence these patients often have precursors. Some individuals experience acute coronary syndrome due to inflammatory changes, leading to thrombosis; others, such as young people without any underlying conditions, might also experience this, often due to poor lifestyle habits like high stress and lack of sleep among other triggers. Most patients exhibit warning signs, including chest tightness, chest pain, and palpitations – symptoms of heart disease. When these problems occur, it is crucial to promptly visit a hospital for examination to determine if there are issues with the coronary arteries, and if so, to receive timely treatment and intervention.
Will there be any sequelae from cardiogenic sudden death?
So, sudden cardiac death is firstly a sudden event. Whether there are sequelae depends greatly on whether timely rescue was administered at the time of the cardiac arrest. If effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation is given within a short time, generally within 4-6 minutes, then the patient's vital signs including consciousness might gradually recover, and it's possible that no severe sequelae will remain. However, if the rescue is not timely, it's possible for the heartbeat and breathing to be restored but not consciousness, leading to brain death and a vegetative state. This is a possibility.