Winter is the high season for sudden death, mostly induced by overwork
In winter, blood vessels are prone to rupture leading to sudden death
Every winter, our emergency medical team encounters patients who have suffered sudden death. Most of these cases may be due to overwork under cold conditions which directly induces death. When the human body is in a low-temperature state, peripheral blood vessels constrict, causing increased vascular resistance and blood pressure, adding strain on the heart and significantly increasing the chances of cerebral hemorrhage or myocardial infarction. Additionally, during cold weather, people's activity levels drastically decrease, including reduced blood flow to the brain, heart muscles, and internal organs. Moreover, experts explain that fatigue caused by prolonged work or gaming can lead to physiological disorders, followed by prolonged coronary artery spasms or induce malignant arrhythmias, resulting in sudden death. Excessive fatigue can also cause cerebral vasospasm and rupture, which is another cause of sudden death.
Immediate rest required if headache or chest tightness occurs
During the cold season, citizens should balance work and rest, acting within their capabilities. The Spring Festival is approaching, and in previous years, it has been a high period for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases because many people play all night long, such as playing mahjong for extended periods or staying online for too long, making it easier to trigger sudden death. It's important to keep warm when it's cold, especially paying attention to keeping the head and feet warm when staying up late. "Young people shouldn't think they're healthy enough to frequently stay up late; unexpected incidents often happen in places like internet cafes. Ensuring adequate rest is crucial for disease prevention."
Citizens should maintain a light diet this season, stay away from smoking and drinking, engage in moderate physical exercise, and follow doctor’s advice to take medicine on time if they have a history of hypertension or heart disease. He particularly emphasized that if one feels fatigued along with symptoms like headaches and chest tightness, they should rest immediately and not endure it. "Before his incident, Xiao Liu had told his colleagues that he had been experiencing frequent headaches and chest tightness recently. He thought it was a cold and believed he could tough it out. However, headaches and chest tightness might very well be precursors to sudden death. At this point, it's best to rest immediately or seek medical examination."