# Teacher Zhang Xuefeng's Death and Sudden Cardiac Death Science Popularization Summary

March 24, 2026 - Suzhou Fengxue Weilai Company Released Obituary

Zhang Xuefeng's real name was Zhang Zibiao. At 12:26 PM, after running at the company, he experienced discomfort. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment but passed away at 15:50. The hospital diagnosed the cause as sudden cardiac death.

## I. What Situations May Lead to Sudden Cardiac Death

### Core Pathological Basis

**Coronary Heart Disease** - accounts for approximately 80%. Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease causes myocardial ischemia and hypoxia, easily triggering malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation.

**Cardiomyopathy** - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, etc. Abnormal cardiac structure easily triggers sudden death.

**Other Cardiac Diseases** - myocarditis, valvular heart disease, congenital heart disease, long QT syndrome and other cardiac electrical abnormalities.

### Common Triggering Factors

**Strenuous Exercise or Overexertion** - intense exercise significantly increases cardiac load, especially with underlying hidden cardiac problems, easily triggering malignant arrhythmias.

**Severe Emotional Fluctuations** - rage, extreme joy, excessive anxiety and tension cause sudden sympathetic nerve excitement, causing heart rate and blood pressure to spike.

**Long-term Sleep Deprivation or Insufficient Sleep** - disrupts autonomic nervous system balance, increasing risk of arrhythmia and myocardial ischemia.

**Poor Living Habits** - excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, binge eating. Long-term high-salt, high-fat diet accelerates coronary atherosclerosis.

**Environmental and Physiological Stimuli** - cold exposure, electrolyte imbalance.

## II. First Aid for Sudden Cardiac Death

### The Golden 4-Minute Principle

The golden rescue window for sudden cardiac death is only 4 minutes. For every 1-minute delay, patient survival rate decreases by approximately 10%.

**Step 1: Rapid Identification and Immediate Call for Help**

*Identification* - The patient suddenly collapses, loses consciousness, breathing stops or only gasps, and no pulse can be felt at the carotid or femoral artery.

*Call for Help* - Have someone nearby immediately call 120. Clearly state the location and patient's condition. Have someone nearby retrieve the nearby AED.

**Step 2: Immediately Initiate CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)**

*Body Position* - Place the patient supine on a flat, firm surface. Loosen collars and belts.

*Chest Compression* - Overlap both palms with heel of hands, place on the lower 1/3 of the sternum. Compression depth 5-6 cm, frequency 100-120 compressions per minute. Keep arms straight during compression, use body weight to press down. Ensure complete recoil of the thorax after each compression.

*Open Airway* - Remove any foreign objects from patient's mouth and nose. Use the head-tilt, chin-lift method to open the airway.

*Artificial Respiration* - After every 30 chest compressions, perform 2 rescue breaths. Pinch the patient's nose, perform mouth-to-mouth breathing for 1 second, stop when chest rises. Compression to breathing ratio is 30:2.

*Continue Operation* - Perform uninterrupted CPR until AED arrives or medical personnel take over.

**Step 3: Use AED Defibrillation**

After powering on, strictly follow the voice prompts. Place electrode pads on the patient's upper right chest below the clavicle and the left lower chest at the midaxillary line. When analyzing heart rhythm, ensure all people stay away from the patient and do not touch. If the device indicates defibrillation is needed, confirm no one is touching the patient before pressing the defibrillation button. Immediately resume CPR after defibrillation until medical personnel arrive.

## III. How to Detect Warning Signals Early

Approximately 51% of sudden cardiac death patients had warning symptoms weeks or months prior. Among these, chest pain is most common. Of patients who had prior warning symptoms, 93% will have symptoms recur repeatedly within 24 hours before sudden death.

### Common Warning Signs

**Chest Pain** - Usually a feeling of pressure, tightness, or pain. May radiate to shoulders, arms, back, or jaw.

**Heart Palpitations or Irregular Heartbeat** - Feeling of rapid, slow, or irregular heartbeats.

**Shortness of Breath** - Difficulty breathing or breathlessness even at rest.

**Extreme Fatigue** - Feeling weak, extremely exhausted, unable to perform daily activities.

**Nausea or Vomiting** - Accompanied by dizziness or sweating, often mistaken for digestive issues.

**Fainting or Loss of Consciousness** - Confusing thoughts or sudden collapse. Indicates possible serious cardiac problems.

### High-Risk Groups Requiring Active Screening

- People experiencing chest tightness, chest pain, palpitations, or shortness of breath during exercise
- Those who have fainted, especially during exercise
- People with risk factors for coronary heart disease: hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity
- People with known cardiac disease, arrhythmia, or myocarditis history
- People with family history of early sudden death or inherited cardiac disease
- People under long-term high stress, sleep deprivation, or suddenly preparing to resume high-intensity exercise

## IV. Prevention Recommendations

### Sleep

Optimal sleep duration: 7-8 hours. Safest bedtime: 10 PM to 11 PM. Sleeping less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours daily significantly increases myocardial infarction incidence. Long-term sleep after midnight doubles the risk of myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and cerebral ischemia. Makeup sleep after staying up late cannot restore much lost recovery.

### Exercise

Never engage in strenuous exercise when sleep-deprived. Moderate exercise strengthens the body; excessive exercise damages it. If chest pain, chest tightness, obvious palpitations, dizziness, blackouts, nausea, or unusual fatigue occur during or after exercise—especially if different from usual—stop immediately.

### Living Habits

Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and spicy foods before bed. Establish a sleep ritual one hour before bedtime. Maintain a daily exercise habit. Let the bed be only for sleeping.

## Finally

In this world, ultimately only life and death matter. Teacher Zhang was successful, accumulated so much wealth, yet could not overcome death. Just being alive is good; everything else doesn't matter. Live well and take good care of yourself. Sleep regularly, eat regularly, and go to the hospital at the slightest discomfort. Nothing is more important. With life, money has a use; with life, love has a place. Health first—you are your child's world. Raise your children well and care for your aging parents.