El cardiólogo Jorge Álvarez advirtió que más del 90% de las muertes súbitas pueden prevenirse

Cardiologist Jorge Álvarez addressed the recent sudden deaths that shocked the community and emphasized that, in most cases, these types of events can be prevented with proper medical checkups and accurate identification of risk factors. The specialist explained that in Argentina, approximately 50,000 sudden deaths are recorded annually, with cardiovascular diseases being the leading cause. Regarding athletes under 35, he noted that most deaths are related to congenital heart defects, while coronary artery disease predominates in older individuals. Álvarez highlighted that more than 90% of sudden deaths linked to sports are preventable if specific medical tests are performed before engaging in athletic activity. As an example, he mentioned the case of northern Italy, where the implementation of screenings such as electrocardiograms, stress tests, and MRIs has drastically reduced these incidents. The doctor also warned that intense stress can trigger cardiovascular events. He cited studies that showed an increase in heart attacks after penalty shootouts in sports and recommended extra caution for people with a history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, or a sedentary lifestyle. Regarding symptoms, he explained that heart attacks can manifest differently in men and women. While men typically experience severe chest pain that can radiate to the left arm, women may present with less specific symptoms, such as back or shoulder pain, sweating, tremors, anxiety, or general malaise. The specialist also refuted any evidence linking the increase in heart attacks to COVID-19 vaccines. On the contrary, he stated that scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccination reduces cardiovascular complications by decreasing the inflammatory processes caused by infectious diseases. Finally, Álvarez stressed the importance of having automated external defibrillators and personnel trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in crowded places, since the first few minutes are crucial to increasing the chances of survival in the event of sudden death.