Driver dies while driving, what causes this?
Fat and cholesterol accumulate in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart for years, forming a 'plaque'. At some point, when that plaque ruptures, blood clots there and blocks the blood vessel.
Driver dies while driving, what causes this?
Bagmati Pradesh 03-001 Ja 1124 electric microbus was on its regular journey from Narayangadh to Birgunj. There were 14 passengers on board the microbus. For them, that day was like any other. Some were busy on their mobile phones. Some were looking out the window. Some were in a hurry to reach their destination. .
55-year-old Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki was steering the microbus. He himself will never be able to say whether his chest felt heavy, whether he had difficulty breathing, or whether his heart was beating uncontrollably.
But one thing was remembered by many present there, he did not let go of the steering wheel until the last moment.
The lives of the passengers in front were at stake. They prioritized the safety of the passengers over their own physical pain. Without creating any hurry or panic, they safely took the micro to its destination. They stopped the vehicle. Only then did his body leave him.
Although the passengers and locals took him to the hospital, the doctors declared him dead.
According to initial information, the cause of his death is said to be a heart attack. But due to the restraint he showed until the last moment, all 14 passengers in the micro remained safe.
The incident of a healthy person, looking healthy, walking, working person losing his life in a few minutes is not new. Such incidents do not only happen on the street, but also in the office, at home, in the gym, at weddings, at the playground, and sometimes even in his sleep.
The families of many people who die suddenly repeat almost the same sentence, ‘He left the house smiling in the morning. There was no major illness. He had eaten and gone to work.’
How does a person suddenly die of a heart attack?
Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki, who was declared dead, may have suffered a ‘silent heart attack,’ says cardiologist Dr. Ashok Shrestha. According to him, not all heart attacks are the same. In some cases, patients experience clear symptoms such as chest pain, sweating, or difficulty breathing. But in some patients, serious damage occurs inside the heart without any specific signs.
Such a condition is called a ‘silent heart attack’ in medical language.
In a ‘silent heart attack,’ the patient may only feel general fatigue, bloating, indigestion, or mild discomfort in the chest. That is why many ignore it, considering it a normal problem,’ says Dr. Shrestha.
According to him, fat and cholesterol accumulate in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart for years and form ‘plaques.’ At some point, when that plaque ruptures, blood clots there and the blood vessel closes. Then the heart muscle stops getting oxygen.
If this process occurs in a large area, the heart's pumping ability weakens. Then the electrical system that controls the heartbeat can break down. The heartbeat becomes very irregular or the heart itself can stop. This condition is called cardiac arrest.
'When the heart stops pumping blood, oxygen does not reach the brain. The patient becomes unconscious within a few seconds. Permanent brain damage begins within 4 to 6 minutes. Death can occur if immediate treatment is not received,' he says.
What is not visible from the outside is the biggest risk
According to Dr. Shrestha, the biggest challenge of a silent heart attack is that it does not allow the patient to become aware in time.
Some people go to the office regularly, drive, exercise and consider themselves completely healthy. But the disease may have been developing in their heart blood vessels for years.
Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, mental stress, irregular lifestyle and increasing age increase this risk further, he says.
‘If these risk factors are present in a single person, the plaque can rupture at any time. Then, within a few minutes, a person who is in a normal state can reach a life-threatening state,’ says Dr. Shrestha.
Sudden death is not only caused by a heart attack
According to experts, sudden death can also occur in serious conditions such as cardiac arrest, stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Many times, such problems develop inside the body for years, but there are no clear signs outside.
‘Sudden unconsciousness is not only a heart attack. In some cases, stroke can also be the cause,’ says neurologist Dr. Rajiv Jha.
According to him, a stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked or ruptures. If a vital part of the brain is affected, the patient can become unconscious within minutes.
Not all patients with a stroke die suddenly. But if there is a large hemorrhage, excessive swelling in the brain or the brainstem is affected, the situation can become very serious.
“Some patients show symptoms such as inability to speak, inability to move one arm or leg, facial drooping or loss of balance. But in a severe stroke, the patient may suddenly faint. Therefore, such a condition cannot be dismissed as normal weakness,” he says.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Dr. Jha says that subarachnoid hemorrhage in the brain is one of the main causes of sudden death in an otherwise healthy person. Hundreds.
Dr. Jha, who has successfully treated cases of aneurysm, says that it usually occurs when an aneurysm, a balloon-like bulge, ruptures in a blood vessel in the brain.
Most people may have had such an aneurysm from birth or for a long time, but they live a normal life without showing any symptoms. “As soon as the aneurysm ruptures, blood spreads into the subarachnoid space around the brain. This increases the pressure inside the brain within seconds and the patient may suddenly experience unbearable headaches, unconsciousness, or even instant death,” says Dr. Jha. According to him, many patients die on the way or at home due to not reaching a specialist hospital in time.
The first few minutes can save lives
Sudden cardiac arrest or a person becoming unconscious does not mean that the opportunity for treatment is over. On the contrary, according to doctors, the first few minutes are the most critical time between the patient’s life and death.
Cardiologist Dr. According to Madhav Bista, after a cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood. Then oxygen stops reaching the brain. If no treatment is started within four to six minutes, permanent brain damage can begin.
He says, “In such a situation, you should not just wait for an ambulance. If the patient is not breathing or does not appear to have a heartbeat, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be started immediately. Timely CPR maintains some blood flow to the heart and brain, which significantly increases the patient’s chances of survival.”
How to give CPR?
1. Start CPR by checking if the patient is breathing.
2. Lay the patient on a hard and flat surface and place your hand on the center of the chest. Place the palm of one hand on top of the other and straighten the elbow.
3. Press the chest firmly and quickly. At a speed of 100-120 times per minute, allow the chest to fully return after each compression to a depth of about 5-6 centimeters.
4. If you are trained, give 2 chest compressions followed by 30 chest compressions. If you are not trained, continuous chest compressions are also effective.
5. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available nearby, use it immediately. Apply pads according to the device's instructions and deliver an electric shock if necessary.
6. Continue CPR until an ambulance arrives, the patient regains breathing or consciousness, or until a health worker takes over. Continuous CPR helps maintain blood flow to the brain and heart and increases the patient's chance of survival.
