The human body is a machine that can stop functioning ipso facto and, sometimes, without the medicine can give a plausible explanation immediately. As the French playwright Pierre Corneille said, "every moment of life is a step towards death" and sometimes it catches us halfway without warning.
We are all aware that a heart attack can kill us almost instantly, "but surprisingly, myocardial infarction is not the most frequent cause of sudden death among the youngest," explains Dr. Gerald Wydro in the New York Post The president of medical emergencies of the Aria Health of Philadelphia picks up the five causes that can cause an immediate death in people.
It is estimated that between 0.2% and 0.5% of the world population suffers from this disorder which results in sudden death. About 1% of people with this disease die suddenly every year, and most were unaware of it.
As Jordi Trias de Bes explains in Cycling in depth "the first documented case of sudden death in history was that of the Greek soldier Pheidippides (490 BC) who ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the military victory over the Persians, dropping his arrival".
In fact, it is usually placed as the main cause of death of young athletes and athletes who die suddenly. "Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 30 years of age," the doctor continues. Tragic cases like those of the soccer players Miklos Fehér or Yair Clavijo, who died suddenly in the middle of the field in full match, are proof of that.
Many deaths that seem accidental by drowning or falling of a vehicle such as a motorcycle or a bicycle, "actually occur as consequences of a cardiomyopathy but not having been diagnosed the cause of sudden cardiac arrest is unknown," Tardiff continues.
However, hypertension can cause cardiac hypertrophy and not be fatal because the organism is adapting. Once diagnosed, people can work with a cardiologist to monitor and control it and avoid the terrible outcome. "Medications, defibrillators and surgery can help, and it is important to carefully follow a tailor-made exercise program," the doctor warns.
3 to 5 million Americans have one of these abnormal bumps on the wall of a blood vessel in the brain, according to the American Stroke Association.
It is a cerebrovascular disease in which a 'weakness' in the wall of an artery or vein causes a dilation of a segment located in the wall of the blood vessel that sticks out like a balloon and fills with blood. The outgoing aneurysm can put pressure on a nerve or surrounding brain tissue causing irreversible damage and even sudden death.
A cerebral aneurysm or a hemorrhagic stroke may not cause any symptoms during a person's life. However, if it breaks it can cause a cerebral hemorrhage, neurological deficit, vasospasm (the main cause of disability and death after the rupture of an aneurysm), hydrocephalus or even end the life of a person.
According to a recent study published in the magazine Stroke, only one third of aneurysms end up breaking and, of these cases, around 40% do not survive the first 24 hours and up to 25% die during the first six months after having rupture occurred due to complications.
Most of the time its detection is casual and is diagnosed after doing an MRI or other imaging test for any other reason. A strong and intense headache - especially if it is accompanied by strange symptoms such as a drooping eyelid, double vision or having a single dilated pupil - could indicate the aneurysm.
Most aneurysms develop after age 40, so prevention should intensify when reaching these ages. "Early detection is the key: if doctors find an aneurysm before it opens, it can be repaired with surgery or other treatments," says Wydro.
Doctors are not sure exactly what causes these breaks, but they can cause blood to flow where it should not. As a consequence of this incident, a stroke can occur, peripheral neuropathies or paraplegia as well as a fateful cardiac arrest or sudden death.
"Aortic dissection occurs especially in people with fragile blood vessels that can tear more easily," explains Wydro. It affects approximately two out of every 10,000 people, mostly men between 40 and 70 years old. A strong unexplained pain in the chest or back, as well as intense headaches, are usually the main symptoms to which we must go to the specialist.
The Ritter Rules are lifesaving reminders to prevent, recognize and know what to do in case of an aortic dissection. They receive his name as a tribute to the actor John Ritter (known for his starring role in the series of the 80s Apartment for three) who died as a result of an aortic dissection in 2003.
"Make sure you get a flu vaccine," the specialist recommends. According to a study carried out in 2014, hospital admissions for aortic dissections had their peak in the high season of flu, "perhaps because an inflammatory reaction derived from the virus triggers the tear in susceptible people," says the doctor.
It is one of the main medical emergencies. It is a life-threatening disease whose diagnosis is not easy because, often, people are unaware of suffering from it and do not know how to tell the doctor.
A pulmonary embolism occurs as a result of a blood clot developing in a blood vessel anywhere in the body (often in the leg or arm) and moving to an artery in the lung causing its blockage.
Approximately half of the people with these blood clots in their lungs do not show any type of symptom. When it occurs, generally the remaining unobstructed arteries are able to send enough blood to the affected area of the lung to prevent tissue death. The problem is when the blood flow is completely blocked and the blood pressure in the lungs rises so much that the heart is not able to work fast enough to keep up with the rhythm, and the so-called pulmonary infarction occurs.
"The warning signs include pain and swelling in the arm or leg that does not go away in a day or two, especially if you have recently broken a bone, made a long plane flight or have a long season without moving much," he says. Wydro. Once the signs of blood clots in the body are detected, a treatment with anticoagulant drugs can prevent breakage and blood from reaching the lungs.
"There are a number of heart problems that affect the system that controls and synchronizes the heartbeat," explains Wydro. These are rare but really serious conditions such as Brugada syndrome, long QT syndrome or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome that result in the heart not being able to beat normally. Irregularities that cause tachycardia and arrhythmias that can lead to sudden deaths.
"Genetics plays a very important role here so it is important to analyze the family tree with the doctor," the doctor recommends. Having electrocardiograms or exercise stress tests can help identify these conditions. Like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, it can be controlled with frequent visits to the specialist who will establish what medications or measures should be taken.
"Remember to let your doctor know if you have nightmares or uncomfortable dreams and movin 'in which you hurt yourself because sometimes it can indicate that you have Brugada syndrome, a heart problem that often kills people while they are sleeping," he warns. expert.
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