He was driving south when he suffered a "myocardial infarction" and "forced himself to hold on for hundreds of miles" before seeking medical treatment! The doctor shook his head: don't learn from wrong examples
If a “sudden myocardial infarction” occurs while driving, may it cause a serious accident? Dr. Qiu Yiqi from the Department of Cardiology at Guangtian General Hospital said that a 68-year-old patient recently developed chest pain and discomfort when he returned to Tainan from Hsinchu. Eager to return home, I took a few sublingual tablets and rushed on the road. Within 10 minutes of driving on the national highway, I developed symptoms such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. Since there were no familiar hospitals in the north, I endured my discomfort and drove to the emergency department in Taichung to seek medical treatment. After diagnosis, he was diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Fortunately, the first aid process went smoothly and he was able to save his life.
Sudden encounter with “acute myocardial infarction” while driving. Failure to seek medical treatment may lead to road accidents
Starting from October, Taiwan begins to enter the alternation of autumn and winter, which is a period when cardiovascular diseases are prone to occur. Dr. Qiu Yiqi said that the patient had a history of cardiovascular disease, and at that time, he suffered an acute myocardial infarction and had to support himself all the way from Taoyuan to Taichung. This was a very inappropriate way to deal with the situation. “Patients with myocardial infarction may faint at any time. If they fall into coma on a national highway, it is very likely to cause a car accident. It is very dangerous for both the patient himself and other drivers.”
In recent years, it is not uncommon for car or passenger drivers to suddenly suffer from cardiovascular disease, resulting in death or car accidents on national highways. Dr. Qiu Yiqi said that the reason why myocardial infarction is dangerous for drivers is that people often fail to notice it immediately when it occurs, especially patients who have never had a medical history before. They often ignore signs of physical discomfort and hold on. “The symptoms of myocardial infarction are sometimes not obvious. Patients may only feel tired and breathless before driving a long distance, and they will not realize that they may have a myocardial infarction at any time.”
Dr. Qiu Yiqi emphasized that long-term driving requires a high degree of concentration. When people are unwell and encounter traffic conditions, they are often unable to respond appropriately, leading to dangerous driving behaviors. Therefore, you should pay more attention to your physical and mental condition before driving long distances. If you feel uncomfortable, stop driving immediately and seek medical treatment.
How to deal with myocardial infarction while driving? Doctors urge “three things” to be done
And what should people do if they feel unwell while driving on national highways? Dr. Qiu Yiqi suggested that you should be more vigilant when you have uncomfortable symptoms. The first step is to find a nearby rest stop to rest and observe whether the discomfort persists; if people suspect that they are having a myocardial infarction, they should stop immediately on the side of the road or on the shoulder of the road, set up a tripod to warn cars coming from behind, and then call 119 as soon as possible. Request an ambulance for medical assistance. This will not only buy you more rescue time, but will not affect the safety of passers-by.
Dr. Qiu Yiqi reminded the public that when symptoms of myocardial infarction appear, immediate medical treatment is the only solution. “Rescue for cardiovascular disease is almost always a race against time. The earlier you seek medical treatment, the more helpful it will be. People with medical conditions must not force themselves.” The public is reminded that if you have chest pain, chest tightness, a squeezing feeling in your chest, or If symptoms of shortness of breath appear, it may be a symptom of cardiovascular blockage. It is best to seek medical attention immediately.
In addition, Dr. Qiu Yiqi also said that blood vessel blockage accumulates over a long period of time, so patients may have uncomfortable symptoms a few weeks or months before the onset of the disease, such as being particularly breathless when walking, chest pain, cold sweats, and even upper abdominal pain. , because symptoms are often ignored and good opportunities for medical treatment are missed. “Whether it’s myocardial infarction or not, if you have symptoms such as fatigue and chest tightness before departure, don’t drive long distances.”
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