Is there a difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction?

Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

Updated on December 24, 2024

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Sudden cardiac death refers to the death of patients caused by various reasons such as cardiac enlargement, ventricular aneurysm, cardiac valve dysfunction, arrhythmias, and cardiac infections. Myocardial infarction leading to myocardial death is just one type of sudden cardiac death, mainly due to insufficient cardiac blood supply, leading to arrhythmias, heart failure, shock, acute death caused by the formation of intracardiac thrombosis, or death caused by complications after a heart attack. Therefore, the range of sudden cardiac death is quite broad, including myocardial infarction.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin

Cardiology

40sec

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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.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 14sec

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The difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction.

Sudden cardiac death refers to the sudden death of a patient caused by various heart diseases. The most common causes include malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, severe bradycardia, significant valvular dysfunction, or the sudden occlusion of the coronary arteries leading to death. Myocardial infarction, on the other hand, refers to the sudden cessation of blood supply to the heart vessels, causing myocardial death and leading to arrhythmias or valvular dysfunction, which presents a range of symptoms in patients. Myocardial infarction can result in death in 30% of patients, but with medical intervention, the mortality rate can significantly decrease. Therefore, in cases of sudden cardiac death, the patients are already deceased. However, the mortality rate from myocardial infarction under natural circumstances is relatively high, reaching 30%. With current medical interventions, the rate of mortality due to sudden cardiac death can be reduced to less than 10%.

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Written by Li Qiang

Intensive Care Unit

1min 19sec

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The difference between cardiogenic shock and sudden cardiac death

Cardiogenic shock is caused by a decrease in cardiac contractile function, leading to reduced ejection, lowered blood pressure, and resulting in ischemia and hypoxia of tissue cells. It is due to the reduced contractile function of the heart, which may be caused by coronary issues such as coronary ischemia, or by severe arrhythmias such as severe ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, or by acute heart failure. Cardiogenic sudden death occurs when cardiogenic shock progresses further, leading to the cessation of the heartbeat. The main difference between cardiogenic sudden death and cardiogenic shock is that during cardiogenic sudden death, the heartbeat has definitely stopped completely, or there is only ventricular fibrillation, at which point it is called cardiogenic sudden death. During cardiogenic shock, the heart still retains some contractile function, meaning the heart still has some autonomous beating capability. Compared to cardiogenic sudden death, it is still an early, reversible stage of cardiogenic sudden death. Once it progresses to cardiogenic sudden death, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation is necessary, and at this point, the mortality rate greatly increases.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

52sec

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Why does cardiogenic sudden death cause pallor throughout the body?

Sudden cardiac death occurs due to heart thrombosis or heart failure caused by various reasons whereby the heart cannot supply blood, leading to death. Most people experience hypotensive shock, insufficient blood and oxygen supply to the body before dying, thus appearing pale, with low blood pressure, and even cyanosis, with cessation of breathing and heartbeat. Some individuals suffer from heart thrombus dislodging into the brain, causing cerebral arterial infarction. Such extensive cerebral infarctions can also lead to the cessation of heartbeat, resulting in insufficient blood and oxygen supply throughout the body, manifesting as pallor and cyanosis.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

45sec

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Is there a difference between sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction?

Sudden cardiac death refers to the death of patients caused by various reasons such as cardiac enlargement, ventricular aneurysm, cardiac valve dysfunction, arrhythmias, and cardiac infections. Myocardial infarction leading to myocardial death is just one type of sudden cardiac death, mainly due to insufficient cardiac blood supply, leading to arrhythmias, heart failure, shock, acute death caused by the formation of intracardiac thrombosis, or death caused by complications after a heart attack. Therefore, the range of sudden cardiac death is quite broad, including myocardial infarction.