Sudden cardiac arrest: Panic grips Hyderabad as death toll reaches 7

Hyderabad: Panic has gripped people in Telangana after sudden cardiac arrest-related deaths reached seven. Latest being the 18-year-old intermediate student who collapsed while speaking to his friends near his house at Khammam.

The incident happened on Sunday when Rakesh of Brahamanapalli village was joking with his friends. Rakesh suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. This is the third such incident in which youth below 25 years died of cardiac arrest.

For the last 15 days, sudden cardiac arrest cases in Hyderabad have reached seven. The first cardiac arrest case in recent days was reported on February 20 when a middle-aged man fainted at a haldi ceremony at Kallapathar in Hyderabad. The man collapsed when he tried to apply haldi on the groom.

A 19-year-old collapsed while dancing

The first incident was reported on February 26, when a 19-year-old teenager died while dancing at his relative's wedding in Pardi village of Nirmal district, about 200 km from Hyderabad. He was lean, active, and healthy. There was no distress as he was dancing without any huffing or puffing. He just fell, and doctors said it was a massive heart attack.

B.Tech student collapses at college

In yet another cardiac arrest incident, a 19-year-old B.Tech student of CMR Engineering College at Gundla Pochampally municipal limits reportedly collapsed and died due to cardiac arrest. The incident happened on March 3 when Sachin was walking in his college building during his lunch break. CCTV footage showed how Sachin took slow steps before he collapsed at the side of the corridor. His friends were seen rushing him to the hospital.

Research needed:

Has COVID-19 increased the risk of cardiac arrest?

"Although more research is needed in this area, it is believed that inflammation of the heart muscle, known as 'myocarditis', may be a contributing factor. It is unclear which COVID-19 patients are at risk of sudden death, but those who have had rapid heart rates, brief periods of unconsciousness, or abnormal echocardiograms should be closely monitored and further evaluated," said Dr. B. Hygriv Rao, senior cardiologist & electrophysiologist at KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad.

"Early detection of coronary artery disease is also important, particularly for those who experience chest pain during physical activity. Patients with a history of heart attack or weak heart function should regularly take their medications and consult with their cardiologist about the potential benefits of devices like defibrillators (ICDs). This device can monitor and improve the heartbeat and deliver electrical shocks during potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias to restore the normal heart rate and save the life of the patient", said Dr. Rao.

Dr. Rao said preventing sudden deaths involves managing the risk factors that contribute to heart attacks and cardiac arrest. The only preventive option is inculcating heart-healthy habits from the beginning.

Other preventive measures:

-Monitoring diabetes through HBA1C testing

-Controlling blood pressure

-Avoiding smoking

-Taking statins to maintain optimal cholesterol levels

-Maintaining a healthy weight (BMI<25) through regular exercise, which will also improve the levels of good cholesterol (HDL).

-Having a healthy lifestyle

-Eating a balanced diet

-Regularly exercising

-Avoid junk food

-Routine screening for high BP, lipid profile, and sugar testing for youngsters is highly recommended.

-Those with a family history or above 40 can add ECG, and stress echo, to these tests

Timeline of the incidents:

-February 20, 2023: Middle-aged man dies in a haldi ceremony at Kallapathar

-February 24, 2023: 30-year-old police constable Y Vishal collapsed in the gym at East Maredpelly.

- February 26, 2023: A 19-year-old teenager collapsed while dancing at a wedding in Pardi village of Nirmal district

-February 28, 2023: 38-year-old Shyam Yadav suffered cardiac arrest while playing badminton at Professor Jayshankar Indoor stadium in Lalapet

-March 3, 2023: 19-year-old BTech student of CMR Engineering College at Gundla Pochampally municipal limits dies at college

-March 3, 2023: A man Thakur Shailender Singh, collapsed a few moments after stepping out of his house in the Peddapalli district

-March 5, 2023: 18-year-old intermediate student collapsed while speaking to his friends near his house at Khammam.