Chest Tightness, Muscle Fatigue, Shortness of Breath: Don’t Dismiss These as Common Flu Symptoms — You Could Be Facing a “He.art-Kil.ler” Disease Within Days

If the public were more aware of this condition, tragic stories of once-healthy young individuals suddenly fighting for their lives might become less frequent.

Some patients are admitted to the hospital with chest pain and shortness of breath, only to go into cardiogenic shock and cardiac arrest just hours later. While some are miraculously saved by ECMO, others have had to sacrifice all four limbs to survive. Most of them were previously healthy, only to be struck down by a mysterious condition.

Amputation and ECMO: The Price to Stay Alive

In late December 2024, Trần Thị Nga, a 29-year-old mother of two from Phú Thọ, Vietnam, suddenly became ill and was diagnosed with viral myocarditis. Less than a month later, she had to undergo amputation of both her arms and legs to survive. While acknowledging that going from being a completely healthy person to losing all four limbs within a month was an overwhelming shock, Nga shared that she found hope in her mother’s words: “Hang in there! Your family and your children are waiting for you to recover and come home.”

Another devastating case shared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Lân Hiếu, Director of Hanoi Medical University Hospital, involved a 24-year-old previously healthy male who was admitted after five days of fever, chest pain, and dull upper abdominal pain. Within 48 hours, he went into cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation — a deadly arrhythmia. Emergency care and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) were immediately deployed during CPR. The patient gradually recovered, was extubated after one week, and has since been discharged.

Viral Myocarditis — A Silent Attack on the Heart

Myocarditis refers to inflammation of the heart muscle (the myocardium), which can be triggered by various causes, with viral infections being the most common. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viruses that can cause myocarditis include Coxsackie B, Adenovirus, Parvovirus B19, influenza viruses, and most recently, SARS-CoV-2.

It may begin after a typical flu-like illness, but the consequences can be severe. While some patients recover fully without complications, many experience rapid progression to acute heart failure, dangerous arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest — especially among young individuals.

“The scariest part is the lack of clear warning signs. We’ve seen cases come in with only mild chest pain, and it turns out to be advanced myocarditis,” said Dr. Nguyễn Lân Hiếu.

When ECMO Becomes the Last Hope

In severe cases of myocarditis leading to cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest, ECMO is often the last-resort intervention. It supports both circulation and oxygen exchange outside the body while giving the heart and lungs time to recover. However, ECMO is a highly specialized procedure requiring advanced equipment, expertise, and intensive care.

A 2023 summary published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports mortality rates as high as 30–50% in severe myocarditis cases without timely ECMO support.

In Vietnam, thanks to the Tele-ICU system linking provincial and central hospitals, many patients from regions like Thanh Hóa, Hà Tĩnh, and Nghệ An have received timely ECMO intervention, increasing survival rates.

Early Detection: The Only Way to Prevent Tragedy

According to cardiologists at the Mayo Clinic, early symptoms of viral myocarditis include:

General Symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Muscle and joint aches

• Often appearing after viral infections such as flu, common cold, or others like Coxsackie or SARS-CoV-2

Cardiac Symptoms:

• Chest pain (tightness or sharp pain)

• Shortness of breath, especially during exertion

• Rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

• Low blood pressure, dizziness, or fainting

Severe Symptoms (in critical cases):

• Acute heart failure: leg swelling, extreme fatigue, severe breathing difficulty

• Cardiogenic shock: cold skin, weak pulse, hypotension

Dr. Nguyễn Lân Hiếu advises: “As the intense summer approaches, I urge everyone — especially young people — if you have flu-like symptoms but also experience unusual signs such as chest tightness, severe muscle fatigue, shortness of breath, blood pressure fluctuations, or heart palpitations, don’t just buy flu medicine at a pharmacy. Go to a reputable medical facility immediately. Ignoring the signs could be dangerous.”

Rapid Progression, Especially in the Young

Viral myocarditis can develop swiftly, particularly in young, previously healthy individuals. If you experience chest pain, breathlessness, or rapid heartbeat after a viral infection, seek medical evaluation right away. Blood tests (such as troponin and CRP), electrocardiograms (ECG), echocardiograms, or cardiac MRI can help confirm the diagnosis.

This disease does not discriminate by age, gender, or physical fitness. What can be done is to detect it early, seek timely medical care, and invest in preventive healthcare — not just in terms of equipment, but through widespread awareness and education.