Sudden cardiac deaths in the young a real threat and growing menace – Cardiologist Dr Jagdish Hiremath

Pune, 28th September 2024: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young individuals becoming a significant public health concern. Despite advancements in medical technology and understanding of cardiac conditions, the threat continues to claim lives in those who seem to be apparently in good health.

This was said by Dr Jagdish Hiremath, Director of Cath Lab at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune on the occasion of World Heart Day 2024.

He says that Typically a young person collapses on the treadmill of the gym or during athletic activity or an extended period of dancing or swimming. These sudden cardiac deaths occur more commonly outside the hospitals and if urgent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not offered, loss of life can take place. Within the first few minutes only the bystanders and witnesses are available to offer the CPR.

Hence the knowledge of CPR and AED shock machines has to percolate in the society to every individual above the age of 15.

He explains Every collapse like this is not a heart attack as it is commonly assumed. Heart attack is a block formation in the coronary arteries. A sudden cardiac death, is a sudden electrical failure of the heart. The heart rhythm suddenly stops or goes beyond 300/min and becomes ineffective. In both the instances the blood coming out of the heart for the body stops and the person will lose his life if not resuscitated within a few minutes.

He said A good CPR and use of AED machine can save almost 6 to 7 out of 10 sudden cardiac deaths. In places like Seattle, this percentage is as high as 7-8 per 10 deaths and in India it is a dismal less than 0.1%.

He said that Absence of smoking and periodic checkups for various heart ailments will support prevention of sudden cardiac deaths. Before taking up a many physical activities like marathon running, etc, a good investigative check would be required. Advanced treatments like implantable defibrillators are medically available provided a sudden cardiac death survives. In the World Heart Day of 2024, it is of paramount importance to spread awareness related to sudden cardiac
death and the revival of such hearts by scientific cardiopulmonary resuscitation.