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Rising Cases of Sudden Cardiac Arrest


Team GSRN| New Delhi|14-04-2025
We are witnessing a global rise in cases of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). It's important to understand that cardiac arrest and heart attack are not the same. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the sudden loss of all heart activity due to an irregular heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation., leading to a sudden stop in heart function, breathing, and consciousness. Immediate treatment, such as CPR is given to help revive the patient during a cardiac emergency, whereas heart attack happens when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked. However, a heart attack can cause a change in the heart's electrical activity that leads to sudden cardiac arrest.
In India, data from the Indian Heart Association (IHA) indicates that over 50% of heart attack deaths occur in people under 50, and 25% in those under 40. Sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, smoking, and rising levels of hypertension and diabetes have compounded the crisis. A Lancet study also revealed that air pollution is an increasingly prominent cardiovascular risk factor in South Asia.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors around the world have noticed a rise in sudden heart-related deaths. Some research suggests that the virus can damage the heart and blood vessels, even after recovery. Many people who had mild or moderate COVID-19 are now showing signs of heart issues like inflammation, irregular heartbeat, and blood clots, sometimes months later. This has raised serious concerns among health experts, who believe the virus may have long-term effects on the cardiovascular system. As a result, doctors are urging people who had COVID-19 to go for regular heart check-ups, even if they feel fine.

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