If the blockage occurs in a large artery, so much heart muscle may be deprived of blood that the heart cannot cope with its normal function and death may occur. This may be immediate or happen within a few hours, a day, or longer.
Sudden death is always a possibility following a heart attack and the risk is greatest in the first few hours, decreasing over the following 48.
The cause of death is usually due to the development of an abnormal heart rhythm.
Damage to the heart muscle may make electrical conduction through the heart unstable.
There are a number of abnormalities of rhythm but the one causing death is ventricular fibrillation.
The best way to prevent or treat this is for the person to be under the care of trained medical or paramedical personnel.
Coronary care units have been established in all public and most large private hospitals. The person with the suspected heart attack is admitted to this special ward and is monitored by having a continuous electrocardiograph displayed on screens.
*409/71/1*
