2023-11-06 18:05:01
TV presenter Hans Meiser apparently died of sudden cardiac death. A treacherous cause of death. But there are warning signs. Consistent prevention is even better.
Scharbeutz – Hans Meiser (77), the second celebrity to have died of sudden cardiac death within a few days. Almost a week ago, acting legend Elmar Wepper (79) succumbed to a surprising heart condition. The deaths of the two TV greats give the impression that older people are primarily at risk of death. A fallacy.
“Sudden cardiac death” or “second death”, as it is sometimes called, does not always occur unannounced. Warning signals can definitely be recognized – as long as you look for them.
“No uniform clinical picture”: Sudden cardiac death cannot only happen to older people
Overall, the number of fatal heart diseases has decreased over the last two decades, as the German Heart Report 2022 shows. The mortality rate for women fell by around 34 percent and for men by 26 percent. But: “Cardiovascular diseases are still the number one cause of death in Germany overall,” says cardiologist Thomas Voigtländer. An estimated 65,000 people die of heart failure every year, according to the German Heart Foundation.
Even a seemingly slight stinging sensation in the chest should not be ignored; it could be an important warning sign of a possible illness. And ultimately prevent heart failure.
According to the organization, men are at greater risk than women, which is due to hormonal reasons. The risk of suffering sudden cardiac death increases with age, as people generally become more susceptible to heart disease as they get older. But even younger people are not excluded from the cause of death. 20 percent of all fatalities are reportedly younger than 65.
“Sudden cardiac death is not a uniform clinical picture,” writes the German Heart Foundation on its homepage. Numerous reasons could be responsible for the heart muscle no longer pumping blood in a coordinated manner. This causes fibrillation and the body is no longer supplied with enough blood. Circulatory collapse follows within a few seconds.
Prevent heart disease: A healthy lifestyle is the first step
High-risk diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol are often the trigger for sudden cardiac death. This causes the blood vessels to narrow (coronary heart disease), which in turn can cause the heart muscle to malfunction. According to experts in Germany, around six million people are affected.
A healthy lifestyle with a varied diet and sufficient exercise can be seen as the first measure against sudden cardiac death by preventing risk diseases at an early stage.
Risk of a heart attack: Seven habits increase your risk
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Case of Christian Eriksson: Even “healthy” people can have heart disease
However, numerous incidents from professional sports show that even well-trained young people can suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. It is estimated that one to three in 100,000 athletes develop an abrupt cardiac arrhythmia. One of the most prominent examples is Christian Eriksson.
The Danish professional footballer collapsed on the field during an international match in 2021. Thanks to the quick intervention of the team doctors, the then 29-year-old survived. It shows the importance of skilled first aid, which experts also emphasize: with every minute, the chance of survival for untreated sufferers decreases by around ten percent.
If you have these typical heart attack symptoms, you should call 112: sudden onset of severe pain that lasts longer than five minutes and does not improve when you rest, cold sweat, paleness, nausea, shortness of breath and restlessness.
Editor’s note
The information provided in this article does not replace seeing a doctor. Only professionals can make the correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. The use of medication or nutritional supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
Don’t ignore warning signs – this is how heart failure can be diagnosed and avoided early on
But it doesn’t have to come to that. As the German Heart Foundation informs, sudden cardiac death is preventable in many cases; although not in all. But if you consistently prevent and correctly recognize and interpret warning signals early on, you can reduce the risk to a minimum, it is said.
The following signs should be taken seriously and discussed with a cardiologist:
– Chest pain or a feeling of tightness in the upper body
– Shortness of breath
– Heart palpitations as a result of limited resilience
– Persistent “stumbling” in the heart
– Dizziness attacks or even loss of consciousness
As the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) reported, sudden cardiac death is often preceded by cardiac arrhythmias. Not only those who experience the symptoms mentioned (even isolated ones) should seek medical advice. The earlier possible abnormalities are detected, the better they can be treated.
Those with statutory health insurance are entitled to a regular health examination, which is paid for by the health insurance company. According to the Federal Ministry of Health, everyone between the ages of 18 and 34 is legally guaranteed a medical check-up; from 35 onwards, men and women can be covered by health insurance every three years. (rku)]
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