• Question: Why are heart diseases so life threatening?

    Asked by Cristina Riquelme to Cristina, Gemma, Loan, Michael, Praveen on 17 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Michael Schneider

      Michael Schneider answered on 17 Nov 2015:

      For either of two main reasons. “Heart failure” means the heart can’t function well enough as a mechanical pump to move blood through the body. Roughly half the people who die of heart disease die of heart failure, though this takes place over a few years. The other half die for an electrical reason, meaning the heart rhythm is blocked or chaotic. Unless treated within minutes, these patients die immediately. Some people who die suddenly, never reaching a hospital, do not even know they have heart disease!

    • Photo: Loan Nguyen

      Loan Nguyen answered on 18 Nov 2015:

      Hi Cristina,
      Heart disease is life threatening because the heart is the only organ which can pump blood around the body carrying oxygen and food to where is needed.

      Damage to the heart is permanent and non-reversible. Any injury to the heart will reduce its ability to circulate blood to the organs and tissues. This will lead to damage to other organs and possibly multi-organ failure.

      Since it is very difficult to replace a heart, we should try our best to take care of it. A second heart is very hard to find and will not work as good as your own.

      Thanks for your question.

      Loan

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