High-risk groups prone to sudden death
Coronary heart disease group
Sudden death has a very high correlation with coronary heart disease, so patients with coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases are at high risk of sudden death.
Sub-health group
In the cases of sudden death, there are many people who do not have any symptoms or even risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia, but sudden death becomes the first manifestation of coronary heart disease attack. This situation points directly to the urban sub-healthy group, which is not old on average and does not pay much attention to their health problems. Moreover, they are under long-term stressful work and great psychological pressure, physically and mentally exhausted, and become a high-risk group for sudden death under the inducement of sports and excitement.
First aid measures for sudden death
Once a patient with sudden death is found, first aid must be administered in a hurry, and the timing of resuscitation should not be delayed by focusing too much on judging breathing, pulse and other conditions. For patients in cardiac arrest, half of the patients may be resuscitated within 4 min, which is called the “golden 4 minutes”. The first aid steps are chest compressions, airway opening and artificial respiration.
Chest compressions
The patient lies in a supine position on a rigid surface. The compression site is the midpoint of the line between the nipples. During compressions, the upper body is tilted forward, the wrist, elbow and shoulder joints are straightened, and the hip joint is used as the fulcrum to press down vertically with the gravity of the upper body. Frequency ≥ 100 times/min, compression depth at least 5 cm, compressions and artificial respiration ratio according to 30:2. Minimize the interruption of chest compressions.
Principles: start as early as possible; fast and strong; continuous and uninterrupted; each compression should make the thorax fully rebound before compression.
Open the airway
Release the back of the tongue and remove respiratory secretions. The specific method should grasp 3 points: head tilting, jaw resting and chin lifting.
Artificial respiration
Mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration: open airway → pinch nose → mouth-to-mouth → “normal” inspiration → slow blowing (>1 s), the thorax is obviously raised → release mouth, loose nose → gas exhalation, the thorax back down. The frequency is 10-12 times/min. If possible, endotracheal intubation with a balloon or ventilator can be given to assist breathing.
In addition, automatic electric defibrillator (AED) defibrillation can be applied if available. Encourage untrained rescuers to perform simple chest compressions; while actively resuscitating, immediately activate the EMS system, stating the location, call number, incident, and ongoing first aid measures, and receive telephone instructions from the dispatcher.
Five key points to prevent sudden death
Pay attention to the “devil’s time”
Experts believe that the period from early morning to 10:00 am is a high incidence of cardiovascular disease, known as the “devil’s time” by the medical profession. Because people in the sleep center rate is slower, blood pressure is lower, and when waking up blood pressure rises, heart rate accelerates, and the body lost water overnight, blood viscosity increases, will increase the chance of cardiovascular events. Therefore, it is recommended that young people must pay attention to not often stay up late, while the elderly should learn to “stay in bed”, try to lie in bed for a while after waking up and then get up; at the same time, try not to exercise in the morning.
Choose a light diet
On the one hand, you can maintain a reasonable body weight, on the other hand, increase the intake of crude fiber and fruits and vegetables to keep the bowel movement smooth. For people with cardiovascular disease, constipation is also an important cause of sudden death.
Stop smoking and limit alcohol
Heavy drinking and heavy smoking are both important triggers of sudden death, so for people without any underlying disease, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol is the best means of prevention.
Treatment of primary diseases
For patients with hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes, it is important to adhere to medication treatment as prescribed by the doctor, and go to the hospital for regular review and timely adjustment of medication dosage to keep the condition stable.
Carry medicines with you
People suffering from coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases should carry emergency medicines such as nitroglycerin and quick-acting heart pills when they go out, as well as emergency cards with home addresses, contact numbers of family members and medical histories. You should know the distribution of medical institutions around your home so that you can get emergency support in time.