‘Puneeth's sudden death a rare case, don't panic but take care of your heart’: Dr Yusuf Kumble
The sudden death of Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar, who was fit as a fiddle, has once again put the spotlight on the prevalence of heart diseases among the youth, about working out in the gym and silent factors like genetic disposition to certain diseases.
Dr Yusuf Kumble, eminent interventional cardiologist and managing director of Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute, Mangaluru, provides answers to some of our most common questions and dispels myths about heart diseases. Here's a summary of what he says:
What is a sudden death?
The most common cause of a sudden death is mostly related to the heart as against accidents or other causes. From a cardiologist's perspective, a sudden or unexpected death happens within six hours of the onset of symptoms as per European standards and within 12-24 hours according to US standards.
What causes a sudden death? How does it happen?
The most common underlying cause of a sudden death is arrhythmia, or rhythm disturbance of heart. If the heart beats more than 300-400 times per minute, it's called tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation which can result in sudden death if not treated urgently.
These sudden deaths often occur due to a spontaneous rupture of plaque in the coronary artery, which supplies blood to the heart [heart attack]. This could also be due to a old heart attack which causes some scar in the heart which in future leads to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death; some other causes include structural heart disease, a hidden family history of heart diseases, a severe brain stroke or lung issues etc.
Are there any symptoms that can be recognised by patients who had sudden deaths?
People may have some premonitory symptoms like mild chest discomfort or burning sensation within one or two days before heart attack. In most of the cases patients may not have any symptoms or may have a mild dizziness or some chest pain and discomfort, and within a few minutes patient suddenly become unconscious.
Which people are at the most risk of sudden deaths?
People who are having major conventional risk factors for heart attacks like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and obesity are at higher chances of sudden death. Those with a family history of heart diseases or sudden cardiac death (SCD) are also at risk. Patients who had heart attack and left with reduced ejection fraction (poor pumping of heart) are having high risk of SCD. Also structural heart diseases like HOCM, SEVERE AORTIC STENOSIS, channelopathy, drug abusers and bed ridden patients are having high chances of SCD.
What tests should be done to go for regular exercise programme?
First, getting a baseline ECG is a must. Echocardiogram and treadmill are the main tests used to detect the adequacy of blood supply to cardiac muscles. A few blood tests are also recommended. After seeing these reports, the cardiologist will prescribe what needs to be done and what kind of exercise and lifestyle modification is required. Despite all preliminary investigations, including angiograms being normal, some serious issues can still happen due to hidden diseases. These won't be revealed by conventional tests and need further high-end investigations which are not practically possible unless high suspicions is there.
Are working out in the gym and doing other exercises harmful? How dangerous are they?
The incident that befell Puneeth is a rare case. Only one person in a population of one lakh can have a sudden death. It's not very common. Some studies show that one death can happen in 15,000 people with more than 40 yrs of age. It is not very alarming but since it (Puneeth's sudden death) received widespread publicity, it sends shivers down your spine.
It's prudent to get a proper health evaluation done before signing up for a rigorous gym programme. Any excessive strenuous exercise done in a short span of time is not proper. Conditioning the body before the exercise, especially the warm-up, and cooling down afterwards are a must. An evaluation of family history and physical examination before beginning the exercise regimen are vital.
Any tips for working out that will not put a strain on the heart?
Anything done in moderation is good. Overwhelmingly exhausting yourself is unnecessary. You need to consider the age factor as well. Water intake should be adequate. If you are heavily stressed, do only light exercises and take some rest in-between. Warm up before the exercise and cool down after. Never work out under humid conditions as you will tend to lose electrolytes. Sudden bursts of exercise should be avoided. If you take a long break, you need to first build up a rhythm for exercise.
Can we take Aspirin or other medicines if we anticipate a panic attack?
If a person identifies unusual symptoms or discomfort that he/she never or hardly encountered before or if he/she is not a heart patient, he/she can take Aspirin 325 mg. This pill can be kept handy at home/office or during travel. There is nothing wrong in taking chewable Aspirin tablets without the doctor’s advice even if there's no cardiac cause and no major harm was done. It is safe to take the tablet before seeking medical help.
Another easy option is to call up your doctor friend and take his/her advice. In an advanced case, if symptoms are severe and the chest pain is intolerable and the patient feels the pain radiating towards the left arm, he/she can take Clopidogrel 300mg tablets which would provide an added benefit for high-risk people and those with established cardiovascular disease(s).
What can a bystander do when someone is unconscious or has a severe chest pain?
Everyone must be trained in Basic Life Support (BLS) skills, and the government should make it mandatory for senior students to get trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques. Immediate CPR can save the victims of cardiac arrest. These days, social workers have been taking interest in BLS training. It's a good sign.
When a person suddenly collapses, it causes panic. In such a situation, BLS-trained people who are around can help. The next step is to seek the help of the Emergency Medical Service, which is available on the toll-free ambulance number. An EMS manned by trained paramedics should be easily accessible to everyone. The government should ensure that.
Another way to address a cardiac emergency is to instal Automated External Defibrillators at important public places where there is a possibility of large gatherings. Many people are aware of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), which is given physically, while ventricular fibrillation is handled with a medical device.
My message is to go for regular check-ups for high-risk people. Do not panic although certain deaths are unavoidable. But prevention is always better.
Dr Yusuf Kumble, cardiologist and managing director of Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute, Mangaluru
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Former BJP MLAs Malikayya Guttedar, Sharada Shetty join Congress
Bengaluru (PTI): Two former BJP MLAs Malikayya Guttedar and Sharada Mohan Shetty on Friday joined the Congress, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Guttedar is a six-time MLA from Afzalpur in Kalaburagi district and a former Minister.
Kalaburagi is the home district of Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge, who successfully contested the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections from there but lost in the 2019 polls.
Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani is contesting from Kalaburagi (Gulbarga) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Guttedar was supposedly upset with the induction of his brother Nithin Venkaiah Guttedar into the BJP earlier this month.
M Y Patil from Congress had won Afzalpur seat in the 2023 Assembly election, in which Malikayya Guttedar had finished third behind Nithin, who contested as an independent.
Malikayya, who was previously with the Congress and had joined the BJP later, had been criticising BJP veteran and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and his son B Y Vijayendra the state BJP president, after his brother's move to the party.
According to sources, Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister and Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge, played a crucial role in bringing him back to the Congress fold.
Sharada Mohan Shetty was a Congress MLA from Kumta in Uttara Kannada district from 2013 to 2018. She had switched over to the BJP after being denied a ticket in the 2018 Assembly elections.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar, who is the State Congress chief, and Priyank Kharge welcomed the two leaders and their supporters into the party fold.
Siddaramaiah said he knew that Malikayya Guttedar would not remain in the BJP for long because he is 'pro-social justice'.
