It’s 2021, and the Pandemic is still here. Dr. Aijaz Lone :

It’s 2021, and the Pandemic is still here. 

Dr. Aijaz Lone : 

In Kashmir deaths from cardiac arrest are increasing day by day, it’s a matter of concern and a big question mark on heath society.

Cardiologists have a varied opinion on this scenario, I think the virus continues to spread at a slow burn and in a pernicious manner.

WHO report on the binging of COVID19  suggests that the patients with covid19 have a high risk of dying due to cardiac arrest.

What needs to be brought to the people’s attention is that, the Covid-19 also affects the heart in many ways and having observed this, several national medical organizations including ICMR have formulated and issued the treatment protocols to manage cardiac cases.

It is now evident that patients with pre-existing heart diseases, previous heart attacks, or low-pumping efficiency of the heart (heart failure) are at a greater risk of developing serious Covid-19 infection.

People with hypertension or diabetes have a five times greater risk of dying from it. On the other hand, even a mild coronavirus infection can lead to the worsening of previously stable heart disease, which may require urgent medical care.

The virus can affect the heart in previously healthy individuals also. The virus can cause severe inflammatory responses in the body that affect the arteries and also causes an increased tendency for clotting. This can lead to heart attacks and strokes, and people of younger age groups may not be immune to that.

So what is a sudden cardiac arrest ?

Sudden cardiac arrest is the abrupt loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. The condition usually results from a problem with your heart's electrical system, which disrupts your heart's pumping action and stops blood flow to your body.

Sudden cardiac arrest isn't the same as a heart attack, when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can sometimes trigger an electrical disturbance that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.

Symptoms

Signs of sudden cardiac arrest are immediate and drastic and include:

Sudden collapse

No pulse

No breathing

Loss of consciousness

Sometimes other signs and symptoms occur before sudden cardiac arrest. These might include:

Chest discomfort

Shortness of breath

Weakness

Fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart (palpitations)

But sudden cardiac arrest often occurs with no warning.