I'm so sorry to hear that your friend passed away. The first thing I really, really, want you to understand is that her passing is not your fault, there is nothing you could have done to prevent it, and there are always "what ifs" in everything in life. But try very hard not to think of these and just accept that as painful as it is, it was just her time.
In regards to your question...Sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Heart attacks occur when there is a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries, preventing the heart from receiving enough oxygen-rich blood. If the oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged.
In contrast, sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions and suddenly becomes very irregular. The heart beats dangerously fast. The ventricles may flutter or quiver (ventricular fibrillation), and blood is not delivered to the body. In the first few minutes, the greatest concern is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically that a person will lose consciousness. Death follows unless emergency treatment is begun immediately.
The doctor that saw your friend...was he a cardiologist? If not, the symptoms of cardiac arrest can sometimes be very similar to heartburn or gastritis. This doctor's first assumption was probably something that he sees more often than not and really a sudden arrest is usually unforeseen.
I hope you have a good support system that can help you cope with the loss of your friend. You were a good friend to her by taking her to the doctor, it is obvious that you truly cared for her.
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Hi Anon,
I'm so sorry to hear that your friend passed away. The first thing I really, really, want you to understand is that her passing is not your fault, there is nothing you could have done to prevent it, and there are always "what ifs" in everything in life. But try very hard not to think of these and just accept that as painful as it is, it was just her time.
In regards to your question...Sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Heart attacks occur when there is a blockage in one or more of the coronary arteries, preventing the heart from receiving enough oxygen-rich blood. If the oxygen in the blood cannot reach the heart muscle, the heart becomes damaged.
In contrast, sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system to the heart malfunctions and suddenly becomes very irregular. The heart beats dangerously fast. The ventricles may flutter or quiver (ventricular fibrillation), and blood is not delivered to the body. In the first few minutes, the greatest concern is that blood flow to the brain will be reduced so drastically that a person will lose consciousness. Death follows unless emergency treatment is begun immediately.
The doctor that saw your friend...was he a cardiologist? If not, the symptoms of cardiac arrest can sometimes be very similar to heartburn or gastritis. This doctor's first assumption was probably something that he sees more often than not and really a sudden arrest is usually unforeseen.
I hope you have a good support system that can help you cope with the loss of your friend. You were a good friend to her by taking her to the doctor, it is obvious that you truly cared for her.
Wishing you peace,
Rosa
December 8, 2012 - 6:48pmThis Comment
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