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Sales of medications used to treat acute heart conditions have surged dramatically following the unexpected death of well-known education influencer Zhang Xuefeng, age 41. Zhang passed away from cardiac arrest on March 24 after going for a run. He was highly popular online, having built a successful career advising young people on choosing university courses.
From 8 p.m. on March 24 to 5 p.m. the next day, sales of the heart medication Suxiao Jiuxin increased over tenfold compared to the same period last year, according to data from an online retailer. Over half of the buyers, aged 36 to 45, were concentrated in cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chengdu.
Additionally, people rapidly purchased nitroglycerin-related drugs, another treatment for acute cardiac emergencies, with sales nearly 19 times higher than the previous year. Among those searching for nitroglycerin, individuals between 36 and 45 years old represented more than half the buyers, and those aged 26 to 35 made up around 22%. The highest sales regions included Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces.
“While the Suxiao Jiuxin pill can be useful for emergency purposes, it mainly offers short-term dilation of blood vessels and relief of angina symptoms during acute episodes,” explained a senior cardiologist and director of a vascular diseases center at Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital.
He added that its effectiveness for actual heart attacks is limited, and for emergencies, nitroglycerin remains a more traditional choice. Previously, Suxiao Jiuxin was primarily used by older adults, but recent trends show younger people adopting it as part of their daily routine, partly because it’s believed to help fight fatigue.
The drug is designed to improve blood flow and reduce pain, commonly used preventively for angina or chest pain caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart. However, these medications are not effective in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, where immediate CPR or the use of a defibrillator are the only lifesaving measures.
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