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| Illustration of a cardiac arrest (Photo: Rizky Humas). |
Recently, the sports world was shocked by the death of a Chinese athlete who reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest while competing in Indonesia. This caught the attention of Dr. Nur Kaputrin Dwigustiningrum, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM).
"The athlete experienced a condition known as cardiac arrest. Most often, this condition is caused by heart rhythm disturbances or ventricular fibrillation (v-fib), which requires prompt intervention for a better chance of survival. The longer the delay in treatment, the smaller the chances of survival," added Dr. Kaput, as she is affectionately known.
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Seen from a scientific standpoint, sudden death during sports can be caused by two factors, which are cardiac arrest and previously unknown conditions. On the other hand, it's also crucial to recognize early signs of cardiac arrest, such as chest pain which is a condition when the chest feels like it's being stabbed, aching, or under pressure beforehand. Shortness of breath or dyspnea is when someone experiences difficulty breathing. Meanwhile, unconsciousness is when a person cannot respond to others or activities, and seizures are characterized by uncontrollable body movements due to disruptions in brain electrical activity.
"There are several steps that can be taken if someone loses consciousness. First, ensure that you and the environment are safe. Second, quickly check the person's response by looking, listening, and feeling for breathing for 10 seconds. If there is no breathing for 10 seconds, immediate CPR, which stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation or heart-lung resuscitation (RJP), must be initiated,” she said.
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CPR is one of the first-aid emergency medical interventions performed when someone experiences cardiac arrest. The aim of involving chest compressions is to circulate blood and oxygen to the brain and myocardium, the heart muscle responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. If an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available, it should be used promptly. Compressions should continue until medical help arrives.
"In conclusion, Kaput emphasized that this experience serves as a lesson for all of us to improve our knowledge about health, recognizing emergency conditions, and responding to them," she concluded. (dit/wil/fajr)
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