Welcome back! Last week we talked about Fat and the different kinds of fat. If you missed this blog and would like to catch up, click HERE.
I had another blog all set to go, but then Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest following a hit in Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals causing him to collapse on the field, and my focus shifted. Photo is credited to AP Photo/Duane Burleson, File.
There has been a lot of social media buzz around this event. What caused him to go into cardiac arrest? Some think it may have been the Covid-19 vaccination. Some speculating drugs were involved. Even cardiologists have been weighing in with their opinions.
I decided to talk to you today about all the different kinds of heart conditions, and then give my very uneducated guess as to what may have happened. Only Damar’s doctors will be able to tell us for certain, and all other opinions are just speculation, not fact, including mine.
What is the difference between a heart attack, heart failure, and cardiac arrest?
These are all three different events, with some underlying similarities. Let’s break it down.
Heart Attack
A heart attack is a circulation problem somewhere in the circulatory system. If circulation gets cut off, or “blocked” in some way, then blood can no longer get to the heart, which in turn can cause damage to the heart muscle. Doctors may call this a myocardial infarction.
Blockages are usually caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries. This happens when cholesterol co-mingles with fat, calcium, and other things in the blood.
A heart attack can also happen when there is a spasm brought on by tobacco (rare), cocaine use (which disables the heart muscle), or a tear in the artery.
While a heart attack can be fatal, it’s not an automatic death sentence, especially if you get immediate help through CPR and emergency services.
Heart Failure
Heart failure happens when the heart, which is essentially a pump, cannot effectively push blood out through the arteries and circulatory system to the body’s other organs and tissues.
Congestive heart failure means blood flow from the heart through the arteries has slowed while blood returning to the heart through the veins has begun to back up and combined they cause congestion in the body’s tissues (think 5 pm traffic in LA).
The result may be edema (swelling), usually in the legs and ankles, though edema can happen anywhere in the body. Heart failure also impairs the kidneys’ ability to dispose of water and sodium, causing even more swelling. When pulmonary edema happens, fluid collects in the lungs and interferes with breathing.
High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and coronary artery disease (when plaque builds up in the walls of arteries causing them to narrow and increasing the difficulty of pumping blood) are all conditions that can lead to heart failure.
Heart failure is not as immediately life-threatening as a heart attack or cardiac arrest, but needs treatment to prevent further damage.
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest happens when there are electrical disturbances that cause the heart to suddenly stop beating properly.
Death can result quickly if intervention isn’t offered right away. “Cardiac arrest may be reversed if CPR is performed and a defibrillator shocks the heart and restores a normal heart rhythm within a few minutes,” according to the American Heart Association.
When the heart stops beating, it also results in a sudden loss of breathing and consciousness. This is why you saw the football player stand up and then drop so suddenly. All systems went on pause. He was revived due to immediate CPR and defibrillation.
Commotio Cordis
Many cardiologists weighed in online yesterday and stated they believed Damar’s arrest happened due to Commotio Cordis.
This is a disruption of a heart rhythm after receiving a blow to the area directly over the heart at a key moment in time during a heartbeat cycle.
While rare, it does happen and usually to boys and young men during the course of playing sports.
The American Heart Association says it’s the leading cause of deaths in youth baseball in the United States, typically two to three per year.
Automated external defibrillators have helped increase the survival rate.
Could the vaccine have caused a problem?
The CDC states that there have been reports of myocarditis following the Covid vaccine in adolescents and young adult males within several days after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna).
What Is Myocarditis?
The Mayo Clinic says, “Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocardium). The inflammation can reduce the heart’s ability to pump blood. Myocarditis can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and rapid or irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
“Infection with a virus is one cause of myocarditis. Sometimes a drug reaction or general inflammatory condition causes myocarditis.
“Severe myocarditis weakens the heart so that the rest of the body doesn’t get enough blood. Clots can form in the heart, leading to a stroke or heart attack.”
So Could The Vaccine Have Caused His Arrest?
It cannot be ruled out. He would have needed to have recently received a dose, according to the guidelines:
- More often after the second dose
- Usually within a week of vaccination
- Most patients with myocarditis or pericarditis who received care responded well to medicine and rest and felt better quickly.
- Patients can usually return to their normal daily activities after their symptoms improve.
- Those who have been diagnosed with myocarditis should consult with their cardiologist (heart doctor) about returning to exercise or sports.
How Many Young Men Have Developed Myocarditis?
The JAMA Network posted a very detailed article on this very subject. While impossible to replicate here, I wanted you to have this link so you could make your own determinations. Click HERE to see the study.
Just the facts, ma’am
This is why the doctors treating him needed time to figure out what exactly happened to cause his arrest. Gathering information at this point in time was critical to his survival. Questions such as did he have a prior history of heart disease? Does he use steroids or cocaine? Did he receive a vaccination in the past two weeks? His history along with testing will most definitely play a part in his diagnosis and prognosis.
What Do I Think?
Everyone has an opinion, and I’m no different. In this case, I defer to the cardiologists and side with Commotio Cordis.
According to Healthline, “Commotio cordis occurs when a person is hit in the chest and that impact triggers a dramatic change in the rhythm of their heart.
“The blow could come from an object, such as a baseball or hockey puck, and may not seem especially serious at the moment. However, commotio cordis is often fatal.
“After being hit in the chest, a person with commotio cordis may stumble forward and lose consciousness. The injury won’t cause any outward trauma to the chest. There may not be a bruise or any indication of a serious blow.”
Regardless
Regardless of what others believe happened, none of us will know for sure until the doctors give us their diagnosis. In the meantime, we at the Foundation wish the very, very best outcome for this talented player. Damar, his family, and his teammates are in our hearts this morning.
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As always, this blog is not a replacement for sound medical advice. I am not a doctor. Please make an appointment to see your healthcare provider and put a good plan in place that works for you and the needs of your body.
That’s all I have for you this week, dear reader. I’ll see you back here next Wednesday to share another cup of coffee. Until then, be good to yourself and each other.
Mind, Body, Spirit…Osteopathic Doctors treat the whole person, not just the ailment. Is your PCP a DO? Would you like to learn more about Osteopathic Physicians? Click HERE!
The public health officials have an official duty to clarify his vaccination status. Especially with all the professional athletes who have collapsed and died on the field these past two years. The numbers are staggering. Trying to disprove it was the vaccine with a time line is not how vaccines and the data involved in determining the dangerous and harmful side effects. It used to be that any such serious side effect was caused by the vaccine until proven it was not. Since there is silence in the vaccine status it must be assumed that he was vaccinated (since it was an NFL requirement) until proven he was not. Great review but we need to know the details. Thanks
Thank you for your valuable input, Dr. Koss. We always appreciate your wisdom on such matters.
As football has been trying to keep up with changes to the helmet to mitigate head injuries, maybe it’s time to look at the shoulder pads/chest plate.