We spoke briefly tonight with Doug Zipes about Michael Jackson’s death. Zipes, a former president of the American College of Cardiology, is a leading expert on arrhythmias and sudden death.
Zipes acknowledged that drugs may well have played a role in Jackson’s sudden death. If, as widely reported in the media, Jackson died of sudden cardiac arrest, the most likely drugs to cause such an effect would be amphetamines or cocaine.
“But I have no idea what role they played,” stressed Zipes. He emphasized that Jackson could well have died of sudden cardiac arrest without any involvement of drugs.
“You have a 50-year-old under incredible stress for the last few years who is preparing to start a major world tour: my goodness, that’s a scenario for a lot of stress.” Zipes said there was “absolutely, no question in my mind that would be enough by itself” to trigger cardiac arrest in a person with underlying coronary disease. But, he added, “now add drugs to it and you have a powder keg.”
Zipes also briefly discussed the death last year of actor Heath Ledger. Ledger, according to reports, died of respiratory depression brought on by barbiturates. Jackson, it was reported, was not breathing when the paramedics came, so it is not impossible, said Zipes, that Jackson died of similar causes. It remains to be seen whether the media reports of cardiac arrest in Jackson’s case will prove accurate. Zipes noted that a blood analysis will be able to determine the role, if any, of drugs in Jackson’s death.
Zipes reiterated a basic tenet every medical student learns early on: “when you hear hoofbeats you think horses not zebras.” These days, said Zipes, a “very common thing is coronary disease related to ventricular fibrillation.”
Richard Fogoros, the cardiologist who writes a blog for patients and consumers about cardiovascular medicine for About.Com, wrote a clear and concise explanation on the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest.
The American Heart Association issued the following press release:
American Heart Association Extends Sympathy to Family of Singer Michael Jackson
(DALLAS) June 14 – Volunteers and staff of the American Heart Association extend their sympathy to the family and friends of singer Michael Jackson who died suddenly today.
“It’s a shame when someone his age dies so suddenly,” said Clyde Yancy, M.D., president of the American Heart Association. “Although we don’t know all the details of the situation, it’s important for people to know the signs and how to react quickly. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jackson family at this time.”
News reports indicated that Jackson died suddenly of a cardiac arrest. Each year more than 300,000 people suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital. More than 92 percent of cardiac arrest victims don’t survive. A victim’s chances of survival are reduced by 7 to 10 percent with every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation. Cardiac arrest can be reversed by defibrillation if it’s treated within a few minutes with an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. However, few attempts at resuscitation succeed after 10 minutes.
The American Heart Association urges the public to be prepared for cardiac emergencies:
Know the warning signs of cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest a victim loses consciousness, stops normal breathing and loses pulse and blood pressure. They may suddenly collapse.
Call 9-1-1 immediately to access the emergency medical system if you see any cardiac arrest warning signs.
Give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to help keep the cardiac arrest victim alive until emergency help arrives.
If you don’t know CPR or haven’t been trained, call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast on the center of the chest until help arrives.
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