An 18-year-old boy on Wednesday died after he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while attending a coaching class in Indore. The student identified as Raj Lodhi was preparing for the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) exams. A CCTV also surfaced on social media which showcased that Raj Lodhi first felt uneasy with chest pain and a few seconds later he fell unconscious on the bench. Ultimately, it was reported that 18-year-old Raj Lodhi died due to sudden cardiac arrest. Notably, teenagers and youths in India dying due to sudden cardiac arrest cases have amped up in the past few years. Even, a study was conducted by American agencies in which it stated that Indian Youths are more prone to cardiac arrest or heart attack as compared to the people of the West. Now, the question arises as to why Indian youths are more prone to cardiac arrest and what the study says.
Why Indian Youths are more prone to cardiac arrest?
First of all let's understand what is cardiac arrest. Cardiac Arrest occurs without a warning, bringing the heart to a standstill. It occurs because of erratic heartbeats triggered by an electrical malfunction that stops the heart from pumping blood to the body. Sudden Cardiac Arrest leads to sudden death of a person if not intervened within the first 6 minutes. Now, talking about Indian Youths cardiac arrest cases, the Indian Heart Association in the year 2023 in its report stated that when heart disease strikes Indians, it tends to do so at an earlier age than other demographics, often without warning.
Other studies pointed out the fact that Indians suffered from heart disease at least 10 years before people in the West. Now, those wondering why Indian Youths are more prone to sudden cardiac arrest, the study pointed out a few common habits such as- sedentary lifestyles, diabetes, increasing consumption of alcohol, smoking, and hypertension. Some patients, however, may not have any known risk factor. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness around SCA among the youth by encouraging them to get regular check-ups.
For instance, Bollywood singer KK died in 2022 due to a massive cardiac arrest after a live performance at Nazrul Mancha in Kolkata. Singer KK's preliminary autopsy report revealed that he might have had underlying heart conditions that caused his sudden death after a performance in Kolkata.
Cardiac Arrest Symptoms
Some certain symptoms that are generally observed that lead to sudden cardiac arrest are- Chest discomfort, irregular heart palpitations, short spells of breathlessness, sudden feeling of weakness, and lightheadedness that can lead to unconsciousness. Continuous smoking, drugs, drinking too much alcohol, obesity, lack of a balanced diet, irregular sleep cycles, and being involved in a high-stress work environment are among the most common factors why Indian Youths are more prone to Cardiac Arrest.
Watch Video