New Delhi: In the past few days, there have been several incidents where a middle-aged person has suddenly collapsed and died. A 48-year-old man from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh died after suddenly collapsing while dancing during a birthday party. In another incident, Yogesh Gupta, a resident of Jammu, collapsed on stage in the middle of his performance and died. Several such incidents have been reported in the recent past, sparking a new debate over whether heart attacks are on the rise in the post-Covid era. What do the experts say about this? Let’s find out from him.Also Read – Covid-19 kills one person every 44 seconds globally: WHO
No, there is not always a heart attack, says Dr (Prof) Tarun Kumar, Professor of Cardiology at RML Hospital. While talking to IANS, he said, “We hear people use the terms heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest often interchangeably when someone has a heart condition. But they are not synonymous.” Also Read – Shocking: Dancer dies of heart attack after collapsing midway during performance in Jammu | Caught on camera
What is the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest?
“A heart attack is when blood flow to the heart is blocked, while sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart malfunctions and suddenly stops beating unexpectedly. A heart attack is a ‘circulation’ problem and a sudden cardiac arrest is a ‘ There is an electrical problem’, explained Dr. Kumar. Also Read – With 43 cases of swine flu reported in Delhi this year, doctors advise caution
Sudden cardiac arrest can occur after a heart attack or during recovery. A heart attack increases the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. Most heart attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest. But a heart attack is a common cause when sudden cardiac arrest occurs, he said.
What other conditions can lead to sudden cardiac arrest?
Dr. Kumar said other heart conditions can also disrupt the heart’s rhythm and lead to sudden cardiac arrest. These include thickened heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), heart failure, arrhythmias, especially ventricular fibrillation, and long QT syndrome.
What to do if someone has a sudden cardiac arrest?
Dr. Kumar further added that cardiac arrest can be reversed if treated within minutes. Call emergency medical services and begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) immediately and continue until professional emergency medical services arrive. Performing hands-on CPR doubles or triples the chances of survival, and bystander CPR can save lives from in-hospital cardiac arrest, he said.
Why the sudden rise in such cases in the post-Covid era?
Dr. Kumar said this is mainly due to two reasons:
- First, due to the increased incidence of cardiac arrest or heart attack in the general population as physical activity declined during and after the Covid era.
- Second, due to the widespread availability of mobile phones with cameras or CCTV footage, such incidents soon hit the internet and go viral, making it seem like they are happening more frequently than ever before.
(With inputs from IANS)
