Did Damar Hamlin Suffer Commotio Cordis Cardiac Arrest Before Collapsing on the Field?

One of the scariest things you can see in professional sports is when a player collapses on the field. This often times happens due to an issue related to the heart muscle, and there are usually no warning signs. Unfortunately during the Bengals vs Bills Monday Night Football game a situation like that occurred involving Damar Hamlin, and in this article we’ll discuss a potential explanation for what took place.

Did Damar Hamlin Suffer Commotio Cordis Cardiac Arrest Before Collapsing on the Field?

Before Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field he took a blow to the chest while tackling an opponent. He briefly got up like nothing was wrong with him, then collapsed to the field hitting the back of his helmet on the turf. Medical personnel quickly rushed to his aid performing CPR, and chest compressions. While it might not be related, many people believe it was that hit to the chest that may have triggered the extremely myocardial contusion known as commotio cordis.

What is Commotio Cordis?

Commotio cordis is a type of sudden cardiac arrest caused by a blunt, non-penetrating impact to the chest. It is most common in young athletes, and is caused by a disturbance in the electrical activity of the heart. This disruption can cause the heart to beat erratically or enter a state of ventricular fibrillation, leading to sudden cardiac arrest. If a person goes into cardiac arrest, quick action must be taken in order to restore the normal rhythm.

Treatment usually involves the use of a defibrillator, which delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore the normal rhythm. While commotio cordis is a rare condition, it is important to be aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions to prevent any potential injuries. Wearing the proper protective gear, such as a chest protector or rib guards, can help reduce the risk of commotio cordis. It is also important to be prepared in case of a cardiac emergency by having a defibrillator on hand, and trained personnel to use it.

In this photo you can see where Hamlin gets hit in the chest area.

After he got back up briefly, then passed out almost instantly leading to a very scary scene. JJ Watt reacted on Twitter saying “The game is not important. Damar Hamlin’s life is”.

From the outside looking in this look to be an extremely rare occurrence of commotio cordis. This might be the first case ever seen in the NFL. Recent reports say that doctors have restored Damar Hamlin’s breathing, and his vital signs are normal.

A lot of fans forget that these NFL players are risking their lives and wellbeing every time they step on the field. Let’s all hope he makes a full recovery, and can continue his career.