How to self-rescue from sudden cardiac death

Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
Updated on March 26, 2025
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Sudden cardiac death is now also a very critical illness often occurring in coronary heart disease. We frequently see news reports of sudden deaths at airports and public places. At such times, self-rescue is extremely difficult. Unless you have a history of coronary heart disease and carry medications with you, if you experience symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath, you could take these medications to help yourself. Otherwise, sudden cardiac death occurs abruptly, causing the heart to stop beating within a very short period, and the patient cannot self-rescue.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Does sudden cardiac death have a relationship with hypertension?

Sudden cardiac death and hypertension are related, with the most common cause of sudden cardiac death being acute myocardial infarction, which leads to malignant arrhythmias, such as ventricular fibrillation, resulting in sudden cardiac death. In addition, severe aortic dissection can also cause sudden cardiac death, and hypertension is often an important cause of coronary heart disease, acute myocardial infarction, and aortic dissection. Long-term hypertension can lead to the occurrence of arteriosclerosis, resulting in the formation of arterial plaques or aneurysms, such as those occurring in the coronary arteries, causing coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction, or in the aorta, often leading to the formation of aortic aneurysms. When an aortic aneurysm ruptures, it can cause aortic dissection.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Can sudden cardiac death be hereditary?

Sudden cardiac death has genetic characteristics, and common causes of sudden cardiac death mainly include the following aspects: Coronary heart disease, angina, and myocardial infarction, especially acute myocardial infarction, often lead to sudden death in patients; Secondly, long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome are also common diseases causing sudden cardiac death and have genetic characteristics as hereditary arrhythmogenic disorders; Thirdly, aortic dissection or pulmonary embolism. These diseases are usually not highly related to genetics but can also cause sudden cardiac death, hence sudden cardiac death is genetic.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Cardiogenic sudden death is often caused by what reasons and how to avoid it?

The most common cause of sudden cardiac death is currently acute myocardial infarction caused by coronary heart disease. The following measures can often effectively prevent sudden cardiac death: First, maintain good lifestyle habits, such as a low-salt, low-fat diet, maintain good emotional health, avoid extreme emotions, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, and regular exercise is important. Second, active pharmaceutical treatment, such as in cases of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes, should be under the guidance of a doctor. It is crucial to use prescribed medications to lower blood pressure or blood sugar levels and control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar. Actively managing these conditions can effectively prevent the occurrence of coronary heart disease.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
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Is sudden cardiac death hereditary?

The majority of sudden cardiac deaths are caused by acute and extensive myocardial infarction, with some caused by malignant arrhythmias. Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease has a genetic history. Patients with such a family history, especially those with early-onset heart disease family history—that is, a family history of heart disease before the age of 50—should be given high attention. Heart disease has a genetic predisposition, and since sudden cardiac death is a type of heart disease, it also has a genetic predisposition.