The heart, as the "power pump" of the human circulatory system, maintains the normal operation of life. However, myocardial infarction (referred to as myocardial infarction) is a sudden disease that often inadvertently breaks this balance and becomes an "invisible killer" that threatens life and health.

One question: Why is it cold?

Blood vessels are also "shivering"

Answer: The incidence of myocardial infarction in winter is 30%~50% higher than that in summer, and it is the "devil's time" at night and early in the morning. The reason why cold has become a "heart killer" is the result of the superposition of multiple mechanisms.

1. Blood vessel "quick-freezing" effect.

In order to maintain core body temperature, the human body will reduce heat loss by constricting peripheral blood vessels, resulting in increased vascular resistance and increased blood pressure throughout the body. The existing atherosclerotic plaque is more likely to rupture in the violently contracted vascular cavity, forming acute thrombosis, and instantly blocking the life channel.

2. Blood "viscous" mode.

Sweating less and drinking less water in winter is more obvious for the elderly who are prone to urination problems, and blood viscosity naturally increases; At the same time, lipid metabolism slows down, LDL oxidation intensifies, and procoagulant factors become active, just like "Yellow River water" becomes "glutinous", and the risk of thrombosis increases exponentially.

3. Lifestyle "high-risk" superposition.

In the cold winter, hot pot, barbecue, liquor, etc. have become the "standard" of the diet, and the high-salt and high-fat diet coupled with alcohol stimulation makes platelets "huddled". The cold also reduces outdoor exercise, and the values of weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure rise together, leading to a superimposed risk of myocardial infarction.

4. "Winter depression" mood.

In winter, the sunlight decreases, melatonin secretion is disturbed, and it is easy to feel depressed and anxious, which induces a stress response and increases myocardial oxygen consumption.

5. Chain reaction of respiratory diseases.

In the cold winter, respiratory diseases such as influenza and pneumonia are high, which can easily cause symptoms such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, resulting in increased oxygen consumption in the body and increased burden on the heart. At the same time, infection may also trigger inflammatory reactions, damage the vascular endothelium, and promote plaque instability and thrombosis. Respiratory infections are often the "trigger" for myocardial infarction in people with pre-existing heart diseases.

In short, the high incidence of myocardial infarction in winter is a chain reaction of "cold, vasospasm, plaque rupture, and thrombotic blockage", and warmth, hydration, salt control, and pressure stabilization are the "first knife" to cut off the chain.

Question 2: The distress signal sent by the body,

Can you read it?

Answer: Paying attention to abnormal signals in the body is paying attention to the distress prompts of life. More than 70% of patients with myocardial infarction have early warning signs a few weeks before the onset of the disease, but they are often mistaken for "stomach pain", "frozen shoulder" and "not resting well", and miss the best time for treatment. The following three warning signs must be kept in mind.

1. Typical signs.

Location: Pain mostly occurs in the middle and upper part of the sternum or precordial region, and can radiate to the left shoulder, ulnar side of the left arm, jaw, and back.

Nature: Squeezing, crunching, as if "a stone is pressing on the chest", accompanied by a sense of near-death.

Time: Lasts ≥ 15 minutes, with nitroglycerin without relief or only partial relief.

Accompanying symptoms: profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, etc.

2. Atypical signs.

Upper abdominal pain: It is easy to misdiagnose as gastritis and cholecystitis, especially when accompanied by vomiting.

Toothache, jaw pain, sore throat: no oral lesions, sudden, paroxysmal and no triggers, and nitroglycerin can relieve pain.

Simple shortness of breath: the elderly and diabetics only show "breathlessness", and the symptoms are easy to ignore.

Loss of consciousness: The first symptom is syncope in approximately 5% of patients, suggesting acute extensive myocardial ischemia, especially ischemia of the anterior wall of the left ventricle.

3. Early warning signals.

In addition to the symptoms at the time of attack, many patients will have early warning signs 1~4 weeks before myocardial infarction. For example, the original angina symptoms worsen, the frequency of attacks increases, the duration is prolonged, the pain level intensifies, and the effect of nitroglycerin becomes worse; Or people who originally did not have angina pectoris suddenly have unexplained chest tightness, palpitations, shortness of breath, which worsened after activity.

Three questions: Why is it that behind the two "120s",

It is a highway of life

Answer: Two "120" slogans: 1. Call the 120 emergency number immediately after myocardial infarction; 2. Strive to open blood vessels within 120 minutes. Don't underestimate these two figures, it strings "pre-hospital-in-hospital-post-hospital" into a seamless chain, reducing the mortality rate of myocardial infarction after timely treatment from 30% to less than 5%.

1. The first "120": Dial 120 in time and refuse to "seek medical treatment on your own".

Many patients choose to drive or take a private car to the hospital after experiencing symptoms of myocardial infarction, which is extremely risky. On the one hand, when myocardial infarction occurs, patients may have emergencies such as arrhythmias and sudden drops in blood pressure, which are prone to accidents and delay treatment; On the other hand, the 120 ambulance is equipped with professional first aid equipment and medical staff, which can perform electrocardiogram monitoring, oxygen inhalation, establish intravenous access, use emergency drugs, etc. to stabilize the patient's condition on the way. At the same time, the emergency center can notify the hospital's cardiovascular department in advance to prepare for reception through the green channel, so that patients can enter the cath lab for surgery immediately after arriving at the hospital, saving valuable time.

2. The second "120": Grasp the golden treatment time of 120 minutes.

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Author: Luo Niansang, chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, and Lin Yongqing, deputy chief physician

Review: Wang Jingfeng, member of the National Health Science Popularization Expert Database and chief physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University