Actor Leung Siu-lung passes away at 75 due to heart attack - Warning signs you should know

Actor Leung Siu-Lung passed away on January 14th due to a sudden heart attack at the age of 75. In fact, a heart attack is an extremely critical medical emergency. Without immediate first aid, the survival rate is less than 3%. What warning signs can help detect a cardiac crisis in time and save a life?

Confusion Over Cause of Death; Manager Confirms Heart Attack

Leung, known for his martial arts skills, was grouped with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Ti Lung as the "Four Dragons of Hong Kong." In the 1980s, he gained household fame starring in TV series like "The Legendary Fok" and "The Return of the Condor Heroes." He later stepped back from the spotlight to pursue business before making a comeback in 2004 with Stephen Chow's movie "Kung Fu Hustle," where his role as "The Beast" brought him renewed popularity and became another iconic performance.

In recent years, Leung was active on Douyin (TikTok), often showcasing his martial arts in videos. His account posted a video the day before his passing, showing him dining with friends. He appeared slightly thinner but in good spirits and agile, making the subsequent news of his passing all the more unexpected. Initial reports about his cause of death were varied, with some suggesting heart failure and others saying he passed away in his sleep. 

His manager clarified to mainland media that Leung died from a sudden heart attack, passing away peacefully after holding on for seven hours surrounded by family.

Heart Attack Symptoms Go Beyond Chest Pain: What High-Risk Signs to Watch For?

Heart disease is the third leading cause of death in Hong Kong. According to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI), commonly known as a heart attack, is life-threatening. It's usually caused by atherosclerosis and coronary thrombosis. Heart muscle without a blood supply cannot function properly and begins to die.

Acute Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack) Symptoms:

• Typical Symptoms: Chest pain or discomfort, which may sometimes radiate to the jaw and left arm, accompanied by sweating and shortness of breath.
• Atypical Symptoms: Such as indigestion and dizziness.
• Sometimes, sudden cardiac arrest can be the first symptom of an acute myocardial infarction.

Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction:

• Complications: Death of heart muscle and loss of function can lead to cardiogenic shock and acute heart failure in severe cases. Dead heart muscle can cause arrhythmias or structural ruptures leading to cardiac tamponade, acute mitral regurgitation, or acute ventricular septal defect. All these situations are immediately life-threatening and increase the risk of stroke or other organ failure.
• Long-term Effects: Patients suffer varying degrees of heart damage. Survivors of an acute myocardial infarction have an increased risk of developing chronic heart failure, arrhythmias, and stroke.