Firefighter health – Cardiac Disease

Excerpts from newsroom.heart.org:

Key Findings from the Study:

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open-access journal, reveals that most firefighters who died from cardiac arrest had clear evidence of underlying heart disease, including coronary artery disease and structural heart abnormalities. These findings highlight the critical role of cardiovascular health in firefighter safety.

  • Most firefighters who died from cardiac arrest showed signs of coronary artery disease—narrowing of the arteries—and structural issues such as an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) and thickened walls of the left ventricle, which is responsible for pumping blood to the body.
  • The study identified several strong, independent risk factors for death due to cardiac arrest among firefighters, including coronary artery disease, an enlarged heart, increased wall thickness, and a history of heart attack.
  • Firefighters are exposed to numerous risks on the job, but the leading cause of on-duty deaths is still sudden cardiac arrest, especially in those with pre-existing heart conditions.

According to the research, firefighters who died from cardiac arrest were significantly more likely to have both atherosclerotic and hypertensive heart disease compared to those who died from other causes. The study analyzed autopsy reports of U.S. male firefighters who died while on duty between 1999 and 2014. Out of 627 total deaths, 276 were due to cardiac arrest, and 351 were trauma-related.

Notably, firefighters with a prior heart attack were six times more likely to die from a cardiac event while on duty. This emphasizes the importance of early detection and management of heart disease in this high-risk profession.

Sudden cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition where the heart’s electrical system fails, leading to loss of consciousness and abnormal breathing. Immediate intervention, like CPR and calling emergency services, is essential. It's important to distinguish cardiac arrest from a heart attack, which is caused by blocked blood flow to the heart, though both can lead to cardiac arrest.

The study also highlights limitations, such as variations in how autopsies described heart disease, the use of a fixed threshold for determining an enlarged heart, and a lack of data on other risk factors like smoking or hypertension.

To reduce the risk of heart disease, the American Heart Association recommends following "Life’s Simple 7" guidelines: manage blood pressure, control cholesterol, reduce blood sugar, stay physically active, eat better, maintain a healthy weight, and quit smoking.

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