Ask the Physician
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2023
I was watching the Monday Night Football game when Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during what looked like a routine tackle . Is this common ? Can it happen to me ? – Nick , East Hanover
Nick , I think we were all horrified when we saw that during the game , and you ask a very good question . Sudden cardiac arrest is very different from a heart attack , and occurs when there is an electrical short circuit in the heart that causes it to beat erratically and stops the heart from effectively pumping blood to the rest of the body . The evidence seems to suggest that Mr . Hamlin had a very rare occurrence in that he was hit in the chest at precisely the same time his heart was in a specific point of the heart rhythm cycle , which can completely throw the electrical current out of sync . For the average person , this is not likely to happen . But sudden cardiac arrest is still a very serious problem .
Some people are at risk of sudden cardiac arrest due to some particular conditions like valve disease , an underlying structural issue , or long QT syndrome . For others , sudden cardiac arrest can be brought on by a change in the heart ’ s electrical rhythm like ventricular tachycardia . Changes in the heart ’ s electrical rhythm can occur with coronary artery disease when there is a blocked “ heart blood vessel .”
It is very important to take care of your heart . That includes knowing your numbers – your blood pressure and your cholesterol – as well as eating right and having an active lifestyle . If you keep your heart strong and healthy , as well as have regular check-ups with your doctor , you are much less likely to develop heart disease .
But to answer your question , Mr . Hamlin had a very unfortunate set of circumstances that caused his sudden cardiac arrest . Fortunately he received immediate CPR and medical care , and with ongoing treatment , he will hopefully continue on his healing journey towards health .
I would encourage everyone to learn basic life support or at a minimum hands on only CPR , and continue with ongoing refresher training of this vitally important life-saving skill .
For more information visit www . DemandDeborah . org or call 855-646-3484 .
Renee Bullock-Palmer , MD Cardiologist Deborah Heart and Lung Center
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