Doctors warn of heart attacks and strokes
Print Edition
An international hospital in Shanghai said it is seeing more heart attacks and strokes in people younger than one would expect.
Doctors said the public needs to be aware of the emergencies that can take place and the importance of regular checkups regardless of age or current health.
Shanghai East International Medical Center (SEIMC) said it received two emergencies in March, one heart attack victim and the other who had a stroke. Both patients are in their 30s and neither had any health problems in their previous health check-ups.
The stroke patient became ill on a flight into Shanghai. Once landing she was transported from Pudong International Airport to SEIMC.
Dr Magdalena Necek, a general practitioner on duty that day, said she saw very clear stroke symptoms. The patient had unclear speech and was unable to move one side of her body.
The medical staff did a quick check of her vitals as well as a quick physical exam to confirm she was stable. The patient was then sent for CT scan, which showed abnormalities that were then confirmed with an MRI scan.
The patient was stabilized after treatment.
Although some conditions are hereditary, preventing a stroke or heart attack is possible.
Dr Liu Zhongmin, a cardiac specialist of SEIMC and president of Shanghai East Hospital, said nowadays strokes are happening more frequently among young people.
“The youngest patient I have treated was 25 years old,” he said, explaining that prevention of both a heart attack and stoke is similar.
“Smoking must cease, along with keeping a healthy diet, having regular cardiac workouts and reducing stress,” he said. “An annual health check is also advised where your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and carotid arteries are tested. Regular health checkups will ensure not only peace of mind but also an in-depth knowledge on the functioning of your body.”
Being aware of your body can also assist you in noticing early symptoms. These can include recurring chest pain, chest pain during exertion, shortness of breath, a new onset of dizziness and heart palpitations. If these symptoms continue to show periodically and if any new ones develop then an immediate visit to the hospital is advised.
“If any symptoms are experienced an immediate visit to an accredited hospital is necessary where, should it be necessary, thrombolytic therapy can be administered for a stroke,” Liu said.
Necek said certain groups of people may be more at risk of a stroke or heart attack.
She said it can take place at any age and apart from rare and hereditary diseases those with high blood pressure, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, smokers and cardiac arrhythmias, as well as a family history are more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes. “This is why we advise patients to have regular health screenings and to adopt a healthy lifestyle in an attempt to avoid having to go through this type of emergency, especially in a foreign country,” she added.
“Please remember emergencies can happen at any time and how you react at the time could mean the difference between life and death.”
During a heart attack, men will feel chest discomfort or pain together with sweating and shortness of breath. Women will not necessarily show these symptoms but will likely experience abdominal discomfort, neck, jaw, shoulder and upper back discomfort, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting and shortness of breath.
When facing a stroke
When remembering the symptoms of a stroke, you can use the acronym FAST to help.
F is for face, you can check this by asking the person to smile and checking if one side of their face droops.
A is for arms, ask the person to raise both arms and check to see if one drifts downwards.
S is for speech, you can ask the person to repeat a simple phrase while listening to see if their speech is slurred or strange.
T is for time and with a stroke time is of the essence. If you observe any of these symptoms seek medical help within four hours.
In the case of an asthma attack, a whistling or wheezing sound may happen when breathing with a shortness of breath, chest congestion or tightness and they are unable to speak.
If a person is unconscious they will be unresponsive with closed or unfocused eyes.
If faced with any of the above emergencies, please remember to stay calm and call 120 for an ambulance. Paramedics will do their best and transport the patient to the nearest hospital.
If you have never been to an English speaking 24-hour general hospital in Shanghai, it is a good idea to have a tour of the facilities so you know what to expect should an emergency occur.
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