Does sudden cardiac death relate to coronary heart disease?

Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
Updated on November 12, 2024
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Some studies suggest that 70% of sudden cardiac deaths are caused by arrhythmias. Most of these arrhythmia-induced sudden deaths are associated with coronary artery atherosclerosis. Some are caused by acute myocardial infarction leading to sudden cardiac death. These are all caused by coronary heart disease. Therefore, sudden cardiac death is related to coronary heart disease. Thus, if coronary heart disease is suspected in a patient, it is crucial to perform early examinations and treatments to prevent the occurrence of myocardial infarction. Typical symptoms of coronary heart disease include intermittent chest tightness and chest pain, which can improve after a few minutes, and should therefore be taken seriously.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
42sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
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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
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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.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
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How to self-rescue from sudden cardiac death

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 Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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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.