Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, the storyline is purely fictional, intended to popularize health knowledge, if you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.
The night was low and the cold wind was howling. Zhao Mei dragged her tired body into the house and threw the briefcase on the sofa. She fumbled to turn on the light, and the dim light illuminated the cottage that had lived alone for many years. The wall clock on the wall ticks, pointing to half past nine in the evening.
Zhao Mei sighed and walked into the kitchen. There were still some leftovers in the fridge, so she casually heated them up and brought them to the table and sat down. As soon as I swallowed my first bite, a sharp chest pain suddenly hit. She frowned, instinctively clutching her chest. "Again," she thought to herself, "it's been feeling more and more often lately." "
Zhao Mei endured the discomfort and continued to eat. She was used to facing these sudden pains alone. As a senior lawyer, she always puts her work first and pays little attention to her physical condition. This time, however, the pain seemed to be more intense than ever.
Just as she was about to get up to get water, a feeling of dizziness hit her. Zhao Mei felt difficulty breathing, and cold sweat broke out. She tried to reach for her phone and call for help, but found that she could no longer control her body. At the last moment of losing consciousness, a thought crossed her mind: "Am I really going to see a doctor?"
However, the idea came too late.
The next morning, Ms. Zhao's assistant, Li Xiaohua, found that she had not arrived at the law firm on time. After several unsuccessful phone calls, Li Xiaohua contacted Zhao Mei's neighbors. When they broke down the door, they found Zhao Mei lying at the dining table, with no signs of life.
After the doctor arrived at the scene, it was confirmed that Zhao Mei had died of acute myocardial infarction. The news came like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone who knew her.
Zhao Mei's friend Wang Fang immediately rushed to the scene after receiving the news. As a senior nurse, Wang Fang has always been worried about Zhao Mei's health. She has persuaded Zhao Mei to go for a comprehensive physical examination many times, but she is always prevaricated by the other party on the grounds that she is busy with work.
"If she had taken care of her health earlier, maybe such a tragedy would not have happened," Ms. Wang said sadly.
Zhao Mei's story has sparked widespread concern about heart health. Professor Zhang, an expert in cardiology, said in an interview: "Myocardial infarction is a very dangerous disease, especially for middle-aged and elderly people. Many people ignore the early symptoms and often wait until it's too late for the actual attack. "
Professor Zhang explained that myocardial infarction is usually caused by coronary artery thrombosis, resulting in myocardial ischemia and necrosis. Early symptoms include chest pain, tightness, difficulty breathing, etc., but many people mistake these symptoms for ordinary fatigue or indigestion.
"Zhao Mei's case is typical," says Professor Zhang, "and she may have experienced multiple angina episodes that didn't get enough attention." For people over 55 years old, especially those with underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, it is important to have regular physical examinations and pay attention to heart health. "
Zhao Mei's colleague Chen Ming, a 40-year-old architect, was deeply touched when he heard the news. He recalled: "Lawyer Zhao has always been a 'strong woman' in our eyes, and she works very hard. Sometimes we worked late and insisted on going through the case again. Now that I think about it, maybe it was this overworked lifestyle that accelerated the deterioration of her health. "
Chen's words have sparked reflection on the relationship between stress and health in the workplace. Occupational psychologist Dr Wu points out, "In today's competitive society, many people neglect physical and mental health in order to succeed in their careers. Long-term high-pressure work can not only lead to physical illness, but also psychological problems such as depression and anxiety. We need to rethink work-life balance. "
Zhao Mei's death has also made people pay attention to the health of single people. Sociologist Professor Liu said: "The health risk of the elderly living alone is generally higher than that of those who are accompanied by their families. The lack of timely assistance and daily health monitoring puts them at greater risk. Our society needs to build a better community care system to provide necessary help and support for people living alone. "
At Zhao Mei's memorial service, her college classmate Sun Yulan shared a memorial story. Sun Yulan, who is now a middle school art teacher, recalls: "Meizi has been a hard-working San Lang since she was in college. I remember one time she stayed up late to catch up on her paper and almost fainted in the library. At that time, we all advised her to pay attention to her body, and she always smiled and said, 'Rest well when you're done'. However, her life seems to be forever in this time. "
Sun Yulan's words made those present fall into deep thought. Many people are starting to reflect on their lifestyles and how they can take care of their physical and mental health while pursuing career success.
Zhao Mei's assistant, Li Xiaohua, found a diary while sorting through her belongings. The last page reads: "I've been feeling sick in my chest lately, and I might really need to see a doctor." When this case is over, you must have a good medical examination when the time comes. This passage made everyone's hearts ache and regret.
In order to commemorate Zhao Mei and to raise public awareness of heart health, the local community decided to hold a series of health talks. Professor Zhang, an expert in cardiology, gave a detailed introduction to the prevention of myocardial infarction and early symptom recognition in the first lecture.
Professor Zhang emphasized: "The occurrence of myocardial infarction is often traceable. In addition to typical symptoms such as chest pain and tightness, the following manifestations may occur: pain in the left shoulder, left arm, neck, jaw and even teeth; sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, and sweating; Unexplained feelings of extreme fatigue. If you experience these symptoms, especially if they last longer than 15 minutes, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. "
He also mentions the risk factors for myocardial infarction: "Age, sex (men are at higher risk), family history, etc., are uncontrollable factors. However, we can reduce the risk by controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipids, maintaining a healthy diet, exercising moderately, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol. Regular check-ups are also very important to detect potential cardiovascular problems early. "
After the lecture, many participants said they had benefited a lot. Aunt Zhou, a 52-year-old flower shop proprietor, said: "I used to feel that heart disease was far away from me, but now I know that each of us should pay attention. I decided to take a walk every day from tomorrow and eat less greasy food. "
Zhao Mei's story also provokes reflection on the stress of work. Some companies are starting to implement a more humane work system that encourages employees to focus on balance. The law firm where Zhao Mei once worked announced that it would provide all employees with free annual medical check-ups and encourage everyone to pay more attention to their physical and mental health outside of work.
However, changing ingrained beliefs and habits is not an easy task. Occupational psychologist Dr. Wu points out: "Many people have become accustomed to defining self-worth in terms of work. To truly achieve work-life balance, we need to re-examine the meaning of life, learn to cherish health, and enjoy the beauty of life. "
As a philosopher once said, "Life is not about how long it is, but how you spend it." Let's work together to create a healthier, more balanced, and happier life.