A Constraint-Based Physical Theory of Acute Cardiac Events as Pump Instability in a Non-Equilibrium System

This theory reframes acute cardiac events—such as myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death—as physical failures of a driven pump, rather than purely biological accidents or gradual plumbing blockages. Using only established classical physics (non-equilibrium thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, stochastic dynamics, and control theory), it treats the cardiovascular system as a coupled pump operating near physiological limits. The central claim is that cardiac events occur when the system’s dynamic operating margin is exhausted—specifically, when its ability to damp mechanical, electrical, and fluid fluctuations collapses. Plaque rupture and arrhythmias are interpreted as localized mechanisms that manifest once global stability is lost, explaining why events occur suddenly and at specific moments, even in individuals with moderate disease or high fitness. The framework is conservative, complementary to cardiology, and falsifiable through measurable recovery dynamics, wave reflections, and variability under load.