Viral infections that migrate from the lungs to infect muscle tissue can cause tissue death. When the virus eventually subsides after running its course, it will typically leave behind multiple patches of scar tissue (dead cells/myocardial infarctions) on the surface of the heart. Scar tissue cannot transmit electrical pulses from node to node to node to facilitate appropriate pumping rhythms as healthy, thriving surface heart tissue can. Rather, it tends to block such pulses. Sometimes the electrical pulses can seem to “bounce” off the scar tissue and go off in the wrong direction. With enough patches of dead heart tissue/scar tissue in place, this can easily trigger fibrillation. In young patients with otherwise strong hearts, this can manifest itself in an unexpected, massive heart attack that can easily be fatal if defibrillation equipment is not close at hand. Such victims were prime candidates for heart transplants and often did not even know it.
Good explanation. Thank you.
Viral infections that migrate from the lungs to infect muscle tissue can cause tissue death. When the virus eventually subsides after running its course, it will typically leave behind multiple patches of scar tissue (dead cells/myocardial infarctions) on the surface of the heart. Scar tissue cannot transmit electrical pulses from node to node to node to facilitate appropriate pumping rhythms as healthy, thriving surface heart tissue can. Rather, it tends to block such pulses. Sometimes the electrical pulses can seem to “bounce” off the scar tissue and go off in the wrong direction. With enough patches of dead heart tissue/scar tissue in place, this can easily trigger fibrillation. In young patients with otherwise strong hearts, this can manifest itself in an unexpected, massive heart attack that can easily be fatal if defibrillation equipment is not close at hand. Such victims were prime candidates for heart transplants and often did not even know it.
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Copying because it’s important info.