The 22-year-old died suddenly after exercising, reminding: these symptoms may not be a cold, but myocarditis

Xiao Liu is a 22-year-old senior student who likes to run and play ball.

Xiao Liu, who is 1.8 meters tall, has a handsome appearance and has attracted the attention of many girls. However, when he was playing in the playground some time ago, he suddenly fainted to the ground. Fortunately, he was rescued in time and was diagnosed with acute severe viral infection. myocarditis.

The doctor said that if it was a little later, it might be life-threatening.

It turned out that Xiao Liu had repeatedly developed high fever symptoms two months ago. When he arrived at the hospital, he was found to have a viral cold. After taking the cold medicine, the symptoms were relieved a lot.

1. A small cold can cause sudden death? Beware of myocarditis

Colds are very common. Data shows that adults have an average of 2-6 colds per year, and children have an average of 6-8 colds per year. However, behind the colds, there may be a "deadly killer" - myocarditis.

Myocarditis refers to the inflammation of the heart muscle cells caused by bacterial and viral infections.

Myocarditis can be generally divided into general myocarditis, fulminant myocarditis and occult myocarditis, of which fulminant myocarditis is the most serious and the most progressive type.

Most cases of fulminant myocarditis are caused by colds . According to statistics, 5% of patients with viral infection will suffer from myocarditis due to infection involving the heart. Moreover, even if you suffer from myocarditis, it is easy to be treated as a cold, and you should wait until you have serious symptoms such as palpitation and chest tightness before going to the doctor.

The scary thing is that fulminant myocarditis has an acute onset and a serious condition. The virus will cause large myocardial necrosis in a short period of time, which may lead to cardiogenic shock and severe arrhythmia, with a mortality rate of more than 75% .

Especially young adults under the age of 50 are at high risk of fulminant myocarditis. Because this group of people has a relatively strong immune system, it is easy to break out myocarditis while clearing the virus .

2. Don't take myocarditis as a cold, you must recognize the 4 symptoms

Many patients regard myocarditis as a cold, leading to missed the best time for treatment.

Dr. Wang Fang, deputy director of the Department of Cardiology of Beijing Hospital, reminded that colds are the "culprit". The virus of common colds may be eliminated by the body's powerful defense system, but some viruses may cause myocarditis.

However, when there are symptoms of discomfort in the heart when you have a cold or a fever, it may not be myocarditis. Myocarditis should be considered if symptoms such as a cold, fever, and heart discomfort persist after several weeks .

What symptoms should be alert to myocarditis?

1, chest tightness, chest pain

Affected by myocardial inflammation, patients will have progressive chest tightness and chest pain symptoms.

2. Dizziness

Myocarditis may cause sinus arrest, decreased myocardial contractility, and dizziness.

3. Heart palpitations, palpitations

During the onset of myocarditis, there may also be ventricular premature beats, atrial premature beats and other phenomena, resulting in arrhythmia symptoms such as palpitation and palpitations.

4. Difficulty breathing and fatigue after activity

After the advent of myocarditis, the myocardial contractility of the patient will decrease in a short time, and there will be obvious symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, dyspnea, and fatigue after activity .

If you suspect that you have myocarditis, it is best to seek medical attention in time. You can check the possibility of arrhythmia, heart enlargement, myocardial damage and other abnormalities through electrocardiogram, echocardiography, blood tests, etc.

Once diagnosed with viral myocarditis, be sure to follow the doctor's prescription to avoid overexertion and emotional agitation.

3. If you have a cold, try not to exercise vigorously

After a cold, the metabolism of the human body becomes faster. If you exercise vigorously, the calories will increase and the metabolism will be faster.

Moreover, after a cold, the human body's immunity declines, and the virus is more likely to invade the human body . If it invades the myocardium, it will increase the burden on the heart, causing acute myocarditis and even sudden cardiac death.

The correct approach should be to exercise properly in normal times so as to improve one's own immunity, and do not exercise vigorously after a cold.

The fatality rate of myocarditis can be as high as 75%. If you want to stay away from myocarditis, how to prevent it every day?

1. Drink more water

Usually drink more water, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, to promote the body's metabolism, enhance the body's nutrition and resistance.

2. Take more rest

Usually, we must pay attention to more rest, ensure regular work and rest and sufficient sleep. Once the human body is overtired, it is easy to be caught by colds and myocarditis.

3. Get the flu shot

For the elderly, children, patients with chronic diseases, etc. with poor immunity, it is best to inject influenza vaccine, so that they can not be infected by the same influenza virus within a year.

Although colds are very common, we must be alert to myocarditis caused by colds. Fulminant myocarditis occurs frequently among young and middle-aged people, and we must be vigilant. After a cold, it is recommended not to do strenuous exercise, but also to prevent myocarditis from life.

References:

[1] "The mortality rate is as high as 75%! Most of this disease is caused by colds, and you must be careful when you have these symptoms...". Popular Science China. 2019-07-13

[2] "A "cold" put him in the ICU! This kind of myocarditis is the most camouflaged, so we must be vigilant". Medical Cardiovascular Channel. 2021-10-07

[3] "A little cold, the heart of a 23-year-old woman stopped beating for 6 days! This disease is horrible! ". The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. 2021-11-26

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