Romanian man suffers sudden cardiac arrest after playing pickleball in Hanoi

E Hospital said on Wednesday that the hospital had managed to treat the Romanian national living in Hanoi who experienced an acute myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac arrest right at the hospital entrance.

On Monday, while playing pickleball with a group of friends, the foreigner began to feel chest pain and shortness of breath.

Recognizing the abnormal symptoms, his friends immediately rushed him to E Hospital for emergency care.

Doctors said that just as the patient arrived at the hospital gate, he suddenly collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, falling into a critical condition.

The on-duty medical team immediately activated the hospital’s ‘red alert’ system.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated, including continuous chest compressions and defibrillation.

After two electric shocks, the patient’s heart resumed beating and he gradually regained consciousness.

Electrocardiogram results and coronary angiography showed that the man had an acute anterior septal myocardial infarction, with complete blockage of the left anterior descending artery caused by a blood clot.

Doctors decided to perform an emergency intervention to aspirate the thrombus, reopen the blocked artery, and implant a drug-eluting stent to restore blood flow in time and save the patient’s life.

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Duong from the Adult Cardiology Department at the Cardiovascular Center of E Hospital, who directly treated the patient, said that after the intervention, the patient no longer had chest pain, while his hemodynamics were stable.

He was able to walk lightly, and was expected to be discharged within the next few days, said the doctor.

Dr. Duong warned that this was not an isolated case.

Recently, there have been multiple reports of sudden death, stroke, or injury associated with playing pickleball.

The sport involves fast-paced rallies and abrupt changes in direction, which can place significant strain on the heart over a short period of time.

This can trigger a heart attack, especially in individuals who already have underlying risk factors.

He also shared that sudden cardiac arrest related to sports activities can occur in people with known cardiovascular disease, as well as in those who have undiagnosed and untreated heart conditions.

In some rare cases, even individuals without heart disease may experience sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation, sometimes triggered by a strong blunt impact to the chest.

To prevent sudden cardiac arrest linked to sports, Dr. Duong emphasized the need for clear preventive strategies.

These include regular health check-ups to screen for cardiovascular diseases, appropriate exercise plans tailored to each individual’s health status, and avoiding excessive or overly strenuous training.

He also advised maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing stress effectively, and following a balanced diet.

Be cautious when exercising in cold weather

Dr. Duong noted that when Hanoi suddenly becomes colder, people, especially the elderly and those with underlying conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, should ensure they take their prescribed medications regularly.

He stressed the importance of seeking medical advice when experiencing unusual health symptoms, and of improving community awareness and first-aid skills related to stroke and myocardial infarction to reduce the risk of death before reaching the hospital.

Residents who experience warning signs such as pressure or pain in the left chest, which may radiate to the shoulder or left arm, accompanied by shortness of breath or cold sweats that do not subside with rest, should seek immediate medical attention at the nearest healthcare facility.