Last year, I grew gravely concerned about our public health bureaucrats’ hysterical overreaction to the “novel” coronavirus. Very early on, I predicted that the lockdowns and ongoing disruptions to our floundering healthcare system would turn into a huge, tragic, short-sighted mistake for many Americans.
And, indeed, that’s exactly what has happened…
People ignored serious warning signs about their health, delayed treatments, and even put off going to the emergency room for fear of contagion. All of which has contributed to the shocking number of excess deaths (not due to coronavirus itself) that occurred last year.
Unfortunately, this avoidance of healthcare, when actually needed, may have also increased the number of “sudden” deaths that occurred in 2020…
Unraveling the mystery of “sudden” death
Among the nearly three million deaths in the U.S. each year, there are relatively few causes of truly “sudden” death.
These cases occur when someone who seems fine (and is going about their daily business) suddenly falls dead, in a matter of seconds. And the reason why typically starts with a blood clot…
Sometimes, the clot will start in a vein in the leg, travel to the lungs, and cause a pulmonary embolism. Other times, there is a sudden blood clot in a coronary artery that causes a heart attack. Or, a sudden blood clot in the brain can cause a stroke. In each of these cases, the clot blocks blood flow to the lung, heart, or brain—which can cause instant death.
Because this kind of health crisis most often occurs outside of a hospital setting, emergency medical responders are called in. And thanks to advances in emergency medicine, many folks now initially survive this kind of crisis.
Of course, in some cases, help arrives too late, the patient dies, and a medical examiner (ME) must conduct post-mortem examinations to determine the cause and manner of death.
While it may seem like these “sudden” deaths occur completely mysteriously, out-of-the-blue, and without warning, new research suggests that the majority of people who suffer them actually had a bad feeling in the weeks (or months) prior that something was off…
Clear warning signs prior to “sudden” death
Researchers in Denmark recently analyzed data on nearly 30,000 men and women who died of sudden cardiac arrest.
It turns out, in the two weeks before a cardiac arrest, 54 percent of them had called, emailed, or visited with a general practitioner (GP). And 7 percent of them had gone to a hospital emergency department or outpatient clinic, or had been admitted to hospital.
Which means people may not feel well and sense something is wrong before a “sudden” death.
In a similar study, researchers analyzed data on more than 38,000 people in Ontario. In that study, more than one in four patients who had suffered a “sudden” death had gone to the hospital emergency department during the prior 90 days.
Unfortunately, neither study included information about why the patients had visited their doctor or the hospital. But the researchers speculated that they may have experienced chest discomfort, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath. Or perhaps they presented with vague symptoms that would make it difficult to be identified as being at risk of death.
Don’t ignore these eight serious warning signs
Officials in Melbourne, Australia, recently conducted a major campaign to raise public awareness of the warning signs of “sudden” cardio-related death. And it resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of cardiac arrest and associated deaths.
According to the Mayo Clinic and Harvard, some of the early warning signs of cardiac arrest—which can appear in the weeks and months leading up to an event—include:
- Chest discomfort
- Shortness of breath or breathlessness
- Weakness or fatigue
- Fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart (palpitations)
- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting
- Neck or jaw pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Masked, vague symptoms something is “off,” especially in women
As the coronavirus panic continues to disrupt your access to routine medical care, make sure to seek immediate help if you experience any of these urgent symptoms. And always trust your instincts. If something feels off…it may well be. And unlike the field of cardiology in general, the field of emergency care is one area where modern medicine really excels.
In addition, I urge you to focus on prevention and take steps to protect your cardiovascular health before you experience a medical emergency. Indeed, there are many other natural approaches to preventing and fighting heart disease. You can learn all about them in my Heart Attack Prevention and Repair Protocol. For more information about this innovative online learning tool, or to enroll today, click here now.
Sources:
“Sudden Death Not So Sudden? Half Contacted GP in Days Prior.” Medscape, 9/9/20. (medscape.com/viewarticle/937126)
“Don’t ignore signs of sudden cardiac arrest.” Harvard Health Letter, 2/2016. (health.harvard.edu/heart-health/dont-ignore-signs-of-sudden-cardiac-arrest)