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frankiecruz OP t1_iub1ezo wrote

Reply to comment by stoma4 in ELI5: How does being crushed in a crowd cause cardiac arrest? by frankiecruz

>Chest compression limits respiratory function

But the cause of death isn't suffocation?

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stoma4 t1_iub1x3i wrote

Right, because the heart uses the oxygenated blood, first, before the rest of the body. Lack of oxygen short circuits the heart so it can't function effectively.

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Porphyrin t1_iub66ge wrote

Then wouldn’t the cause of death for suffocation always be heart attack…?

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Reddit-username_here t1_iub8box wrote

No. The hearts of these people just weren't strong enough to handle the trauma caused by the lack of blood flow for however long it was. Someone else's heart could handle it, and their brain would be damaged first. Or it could cause a different organ to fail.

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