Sudden death of young & fit cause of concern; experts advise awareness
Lucknow: Abhishek, 25, a lawyer, died suddenly on Monday afternoon while walking to court with a colleague. He reportedly felt dizzy, stumbled, hit his face against a wall, and collapsed.
His colleague immediately took him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. The incident is one of at least four recent sudden deaths in the city, reportedly due to cardiac arrest, raising concerns about unexpected cardiac events in young, seemingly healthy individuals.
The victims include a 24-year-old MBBS intern from Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), a 29-year-old nursing officer from KGMU, and a 48-year-old state secretariat employee.
All were active, showed no significant prior health issues, and their sudden deaths have left families and colleagues in disbelief.
Health experts are advocating for increased awareness of heart health, early symptom recognition, and emergency response training like CPR.
Prof Pravesh Vishwakarma of KGMU explains that cardiac arrest, distinct from a heart attack, occurs when the heart abruptly stops beating due to an electrical disturbance, leading to immediate cessation of blood flow.
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
He identifies three primary medical causes in young, healthy individuals: genetic channelopathy (a hereditary heart rhythm condition), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle restricting blood flow), and viral myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation post-viral infection, exacerbated by early return to intense physical activity). While less common, heart attacks are also increasingly seen in younger individuals, linked to sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, and stress.
A 2019 ICMR study on sudden unexplained deaths found no link between Covid-19 vaccination and increased risk; in fact, vaccinated individuals had a lower risk. However, the study associated higher chances of sudden death with binge drinking within 48 hours, frequent alcohol consumption, recreational drug use, a history of Covid-19 hospitalisation, a family history of sudden cardiac death, and strenuous physical activity within two days prior to death.
Prof Vishwakarma advises against ignoring symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, fainting, extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, or unexplained sweating, especially for those with a family history of heart disease.
Prof Akshaya Pradhan of KGMU recommends that young individuals with a family history begin routine heart screenings by age 20 and adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle. Prof Bhuwan Chandra of RMLIMS supports mandatory annual CPR training in colleges and institutions, emphasizing its importance for young adults who are often present during emergencies.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Economic Times
Hong Kong medical expert recommends annual Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for high-risk groups
Professor David Hui urges annual Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations for Hong Kong's high-risk groups, citing the cyclical nature of outbreaks and the need for preventive healthcare David Hui Shu-cheong, professor of respiratory medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, has urged that vulnerable groups in Hong Kong receive Covid-19 vaccinations annually. Speaking on Saturday, June 21, Hui noted that outbreaks are expected to recur every six to nine months due to declining antibody levels in the population.'The current outbreak started in April, peaked at the end of May and is now beginning to subside,' Hui said during a radio interview. He estimated that the present wave may end by July or August. Also read: The pandemic isn't over: New COVID cases are on the rise in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and other Sout Hui emphasized that high-risk groups, including individuals with chronic illnesses, children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals, face greater risks of severe complications, such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, or even death, if infected. Authorities have confirmed six severe pediatric Covid-19 cases so far in 2025, with no fatalities reported. Two of the children had pre-existing conditions, and four had not received Covid-19 vaccinations. 'As a new outbreak will come back every year, I would advise the high-risk groups to get jabbed at least once every year against the infections,' Hui said. He added that because Covid-19 symptoms often resemble those of seasonal influenza, individuals showing respiratory symptoms should use rapid antigen tests immediately. Early detection allows for timely treatment, which can help prevent complications. In addition to Covid-19 vaccines, Hui recommended annual influenza vaccinations for high-risk individuals. He referenced a recent cluster of influenza A cases at a primary school in Sham Shui Po, involving 46 people, 41 male students aged 7 to 10 and five staff members. Also read: What international travellers should know amidst rising Covid-19 cases Of the infected, 41 sought medical care and three required hospitalization. All cases were mild. Hui attributed the cluster to poor ventilation and inadequate sanitation of shared classroom items.'Influenza vaccines have been used for many years with extremely low side effects, mainly minor redness and swelling at the injection site,' he said. 'Parents should arrange for their young children to receive the flu vaccines to reduce infection risks.'He warned that Hong Kong's summer flu season typically spans half the summer, usually from July to August. The vaccination rate among children aged six months to two years remains low, with only 27 per cent vaccinated. Professor David Hui of the Chinese University of Hong Kong recommends annual Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations for vulnerable populations, citing recurring outbreaks every six to nine months. He warns that chronically ill individuals, children, and the elderly remain at risk of serious complications without regular immunization and timely testing and treatment Hong Kong medical expert recommends annual Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for high-risk groups Hui concluded by stressing the importance of immunization for reducing public health risks amid ongoing viral transmission cycles.
United News of India
5 hours ago
- United News of India
India's active Covid cases dip to 5012, one death in past 24 hrs
New Delhi, June 21 (UNI) India's active Covid-19 case load continues its downward trajectory, with a total of 5,012 active cases reported across the country as of Saturday morning. This marks a significant decrease over the past six days. In the 24 hours leading up to 8 am on Saturday, one death was recorded. As per the data available from the Union Health Ministry, among the States which saw substantial decrease were Andhra Pradesh (37), Kerala(1043), Karnataka(277), Maharashtra (340) and Madhya Pradesh (108) while states like Manipur, Punjab and Uttarakhand registered an uptick in the virus load with 26, 11 and 2 respectively. A total of 15,493 people have been discharged after successful treatment in 2025. A single fatality was reported from Rajasthan, involving a 20-year-old male with pre-existing health conditions. The Health Ministry's data reveals that while the number of new cases remains relatively low, the health infrastructure continues to be on alert, with effective measures in place to monitor and contain any resurgence. Public health experts have also stressed the need for maintaining preventive measures and adhering to guidelines to keep the virus in check. UNI AJ ARN
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh State Consumer Commission orders SBI Life to pay Rs 50 lakh to widow, rejects concealment claim
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed SBI Life Insurance Company to pay Rs 50 lakh to Savitri Salam, whose husband's insurance claim was initially rejected. The Commission found that the insurer failed to conclusively prove concealment of pre-existing diseases by the deceased. Savitri Salam, a resident of Surdongar village in Keshkal tehsil, filed a complaint after her husband's health deteriorated, leading to his demise on 16 June 2021. She had sought a claim under a policy taken by her husband, but SBI Life Insurance rejected it, alleging that he had provided incorrect information about his pre-existing medical conditions and treatment in the proposal form. The insurance company argued before the District Consumer Commission that the insured suffered from diabetes and heart disease prior to taking the policy, and this was noted in his medical records from AIIMS, Raipur, as part of his medical history. Based on this, the claim was rejected due to misrepresentation of health information in the proposal form. The District Consumer Commission, Kanker, accepted Savitri Salam's complaint and directed the insurance company to pay the full claim amount within one month. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo SBI Life Insurance then challenged this order before the Chhattisgarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. During the appeal hearing, the bench of Justice Gautam Chourdiya, President, and Pramod Kumar Varma, Member, determined that the claim was rejected solely based on a note in the AIIMS, Raipur, medical record. No other medical records were presented to conclusively prove that the insured suffered from diabetes and heart disease before applying for the policy, had undergone any prior treatment, or was on continuous medication. The Commission observed there was no evidence to suggest that the insured was aware of these conditions when he submitted the proposal. The State Commission concluded that it was not appropriate to claim the insured intentionally concealed important facts about his pre-existing diseases in the proposal. The appeal was rejected, and SBI Life Insurance Company has been directed to pay Rs 50 lakh from the life insurance claim, after deducting the Rs 56,621 premium amount already refunded to Savitri Salam by the insurance company. This amount will also include 7% annual simple interest from the date the complaint was filed (27 December 2023).
