The heart plays a critical role in our well-being while it performs basic and complex functions. The heart is surrounded by the ribcage, thick muscles, and connective tissues that protect it from mechanical damage. However, high-impact accidents can cause severe injuries to the body, the heart included.
What Is a Heart Injury?
The heart pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen to different body parts. Being a primary body organ, any injuries to the heart could cause medical emergencies that require urgent attention.
Three layers cover the heart: the endocardium, myocardium, and epicardium. It also has four chambers: two auricles and ventricles, each on the left and right side. Two of these chambers are responsible for circulating oxygenated blood from the heart, while the other two return deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Veins and arteries, such as the aorta, facilitate blood circulation to and from the heart. The heart is also at risk if these blood vessels withstand injuries or do not function properly.
Heart injuries typically occur in high-impact accidents where vehicles are moving at high speeds. The resulting force causes the heart to shake in the chest cavity vigorously and could collapse the chest cavity in extreme cases.
Types of Heart Injuries
Below are the most common forms of heart injuries you can sustain after car crashes:
Aortic Rupture
This condition occurs when the aorta ruptures and pumps blood into the chest cavity. Typically, the blood vessel pumps high-pressure oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
If and when this blood vessel ruptures, it inhibits blood from flowing to other organs but instead fills up the chest cavity with blood. Most of the time, this is a severe condition requiring emergency surgery with low success rates.
Aortic Dissections
Unlike aortic ruptures, aortic dissections occur from a tear of the aorta’s lining. Though not fatal, the condition requires immediate medical attention. The tear causes blood to ooze out slowly, filling the aorta lining.
It is often characterized by numbness on one side of the body. Even though the aorta is not fully torn, it could easily rupture as blood continues to fill up its lining. For such conditions, the earlier a patient gets medical attention, the higher their chances of survival.
Cardiac Rupture
During high-impact accidents, the force produced from the collision could cause the heart to burst open. This is known as a cardiac rupture. With this condition, the heart leaks.
Cardiac ruptures have high fatality rates as they are uncontrollable. Nonetheless, immediate medical surgery could help repair the damage when the rupture is not severe.
Heart Contusions
Contusions are small lumps on the walls of the heart which cause severe chest pains and discomfort to the affected individuals. If left unchecked, they can lead to leaks, damages, and other medical conditions. Fortunately, with proper treatment, they can eventually heal.
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation occurs when the heart rhythm becomes unsynced during an accident. Though not as fatal as the other conditions, it could cause equally dangerous conditions like heart failure and burnout. This is because the heart works harder than normal. The condition is easily controlled by proper medication.
Bottom line, if you feel chest pains after an accident, make sure you see a medical professional, as only they can diagnose this condition.
Key Takeaways
As mentioned above, many heart injuries sustained from accidents can be fatal and require immediate medical attention. Moreover, the injuries are internal and not easy to spot.
Be sure to call 911 immediately after you witness a serious accident or have been involved in one. Moreover, avoid moving the victims whenever possible, as it could do more harm than good.
“Car accidents can be a traumatic and frustrating experience which is why reaching out to a personal injury lawyer may help alleviate burdens incurred from the accident.” says Richard Godshall of Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers. You can also file a personal injury claim if you suspect you were injured due to another driver’s negligence. This will ensure that you are fully compensated for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.