Hulk Hogan has wrestled his final match — taken down not by a rival within the ring, however by one in every of America's high killers: cardiac arrest.
Information broke Thursday morning that the wrestling icon, born Terry Gene Bollea, had died after weeks of declining well being.
“He was affected by shortness of breath, obtained drained simply, had misplaced loads of weight and was on oxygen as his life ebbed away at his mansion in Clearwater, Florida,” an insider alleged to the Daily Mail.
Whereas Hogan, 71, might have constructed his legacy surviving physique slams and metal cages, cardiac arrest proved to be one opponent even the handlebar-mustachioed marvel couldn't overpower.
Globally, the situation claims extra lives every year than colorectal most cancers, breast most cancers, prostate most cancers, pneumonia, automotive crashes, the flu, HIV and home fires mixed, in accordance with the American Heart Association.
Within the US alone, cardiac arrest kills greater than 436,000 Individuals yearly — making it one of many nation's deadliest well being threats.
Right here's every thing you have to learn about this heart-stopping emergency and methods to act earlier than it's too late.
What's cardiac arrest?
It's a lethal medical emergency the place the center all of the sudden stops beating — or beats so erratically that it will possibly't pump blood in any respect, in accordance with the Cleveland Clinic.
When that occurs, oxygen stops flowing to the mind and very important organs. Inside minutes, the physique begins shutting down — and with out rapid assist, the possibilities of loss of life are excessive.
Regardless of widespread confusion, cardiac arrest shouldn't be the identical as a coronary heart assault.
A coronary heart assault is a circulation drawback brought on by a blocked artery that cuts off blood movement to the center muscle.
Cardiac arrest, against this, is {an electrical} malfunction. The center's rhythm goes haywire, and the muscle flatlines.
Who's in danger for cardiac arrest?
The most typical reason behind sudden cardiac arrest is an irregular coronary heart rhythm referred to as ventricular fibrillation, which retains the center from pumping blood successfully, in accordance with the Mayo Clinic.
Sure coronary heart situations — like coronary artery illness, coronary heart valve issues, and a historical past of coronary heart assaults — can improve the chance of this harmful rhythm. However cardiac arrest can even strike folks with no identified coronary heart points.
Different elements that will improve your possibilities embody:
- Smoking or heavy alcohol/drug use
- Hypertension or ldl cholesterol
- Low potassium or magnesium ranges
- Weight problems
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Continual kidney illness
- A sedentary way of life
- A household historical past of coronary heart illness or cardiac arrest
Whereas the chance of cardiac arrest will increase with age, it will possibly strike at any time — even in kids. In actual fact, sudden cardiac arrests occur in about 1 in each 70 colleges every year, usually impacting younger athletes.
Males typically face increased odds of cardiac arrest, however ladies's danger rises after menopause.
Warning indicators to look at for
“The standard indicators of a cardiac arrest embody abrupt lack of consciousness with eyes rolled again, seizure-like exercise as a consequence of lack of oxygen movement to the mind, and irregular, labored or no respiration,” Dr. Irfan Asif, professor and chair of the Division of Household and Neighborhood Drugs College of Alabama at Birmingham, mentioned in an interview.
He added that somebody struggling cardiac arrest might have a really weak pulse — or no pulse in any respect.
Different warning indicators that may come earlier than cardiac arrest embody chest discomfort, shortness of breath, weak spot and coronary heart palpitations like a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding coronary heart.
However right here's the kicker: Typically there are not any warnings in any respect. That's why figuring out methods to reply can imply the distinction between life and loss of life.
What do you have to do if somebody goes into cardiac arrest?
“If you're experiencing a cardiac arrest, attempt to get to a spot the place you aren't alone, or sign to somebody you're in misery earlier than you're incapacitated,” Dr. John Bozinovski, a cardiac surgeon at The Ohio State College Wexner Medical Middle, told HuffPost.
Should you see somebody collapse and suspect cardiac arrest, act quick.
First, examine in the event that they're responsive by loudly asking, “Are you okay?” and gently shaking their shoulders. Search for a pulse and examine in the event that they're respiration usually, in accordance with the University of California, Davis.
If others are close by, assign somebody to name 911 and one other to seek out an automatic exterior defibrillator (AED), which may shock the center again to rhythm. Should you're alone, name 911 your self and put the cellphone on speaker.
For kids, begin CPR straight away. For adults, get the AED shortly, because it's normally a coronary heart concern.
To carry out CPR, lay the individual on their again on a agency floor, tilt their head again to open the airway, and examine for respiration. In the event that they're not respiration, start chest compressions: place your palms, one on high of the opposite, within the middle of the chest, urgent arduous (about 2 inches deep for adults) at 100–120 compressions per minute.
Use the AED as quickly because it arrives and observe its prompts. Alternate CPR and AED use till assist arrives or the individual wakes up.
Each minute with out intervention after a cardiac arrest lowers survival possibilities by 10%. But fewer than half obtain well timed assist, in accordance with the American Red Cross.
Whereas CPR or AED use can double or triple survival odds, studies show bystanders use an AED solely 7% of the time and carry out CPR 42% of the time when witnessing a public cardiac arrest.
Specialists are urging everybody to be taught CPR to spice up these numbers.
“Everybody ought to take an in-person CPR course at the least as soon as, with a refresher each two to a few years,” Dr. Eric Goralnick, affiliate professor of emergency medication at Harvard Medical College, advised.
“You possibly can save the lifetime of a member of the family, pal, or perhaps a stranger,” he added, noting that many CPR courses additionally cowl first support and AED use.
