Sudden cardiac arrest strikes fast: Watch for these silent symptoms
Actor Shefali Jariwala, best known for her iconic appearance in
Kaanta Laga
, passed away at just 42, leaving fans shocked and reigniting concerns over the growing incidence of sudden cardiac arrest in younger adults.
She died unexpectedly on Friday night.
What makes sudden cardiac arrest so terrifying is how silently it strikes. There's rarely any warning—no clutching of the chest, no gasping for breath, no time for final words. More often than not, it arrives quietly, like a thief in the middle of the day. One moment, the person is fine. The next, they collapse. And that eerie stillness is what makes it so deadly—and so easy to miss.
We're used to imagining heart problems, someone groaning, holding their chest, warning those around them. But cardiac arrest? It often gives you no such warning. One moment you're fine, maybe walking, talking, even laughing. The next moment, your heart stops beating. Literally.
What exactly is sudden cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. That's the first big misunderstanding. A heart attack happens when there's a blockage in the blood flow to the heart.
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by Taboola
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You can still be conscious, in pain, and have time to get help. Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is an electrical problem. Your heart's rhythm goes haywire—often due to a condition called ventricular fibrillation—and your heart just stops pumping blood.
Instantly. That means no oxygen reaches your brain, your lungs, or any part of your body.
The person passes out, stops breathing, and unless someone jumps in with CPR and a defibrillator within minutes, the chances of survival drop fast.
We're talking 7 to 10% per minute. So yeah, every second counts.
Cardiac arrest symptoms: The signs? They're not what you think
Here's where things get tricky. Most people assume sudden cardiac arrest comes with warning signs like chest pain or breathlessness. Sometimes it does. But in many cases, there are no clear signs at all. The collapse is the first and only major sign.
"Most people who had a cardiac arrest had one or more symptoms in the hour before the event. Some symptoms may even appear a few weeks before a cardiac arrest.
But many people who have a cardiac arrest had no prior symptoms," says the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
The possible warning signs of cardiac arrest are: Shortness of breath (more common in women than men), Extreme tiredness (unusual fatigue), Back pain, Flu-like symptoms,
Belly pain, nausea, and vomiting, Chest pain, mainly angina (more common in men than women), Repeated dizziness or fainting, especially while exercising hard, sitting, or lying on your back, Heart palpitations, or feeling as if your heart is racing, fluttering, or skipping a beat.
Unexplained fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath while doing regular tasks, a feeling of your heart 'skipping' or beating too fast, or even fainting episodes. These aren't symptoms people usually rush to the ER for, especially if you're young, otherwise healthy, and not someone with a known heart condition.
Women, in particular, tend to have even vaguer symptoms—like nausea, back pain, or extreme fatigue. And since many people brush these off as stress, gas, or being 'just tired,' the red flags get ignored.
It can happen to anyone—even the seemingly healthy.
One of the most shocking things about sudden cardiac arrest is that it doesn't discriminate. Sure, people with heart disease, arrhythmias, or structural heart problems are more at risk. But every now and then, you hear about a young athlete collapsing during a game. Or a middle-aged gym-goer who seemed in peak condition dropping suddenly. Or someone dying in their sleep.
That's the scary part. Conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle), inherited arrhythmias, or even long QT syndrome can lurk quietly without symptoms. You could pass your annual check-ups and still be walking around with a silent threat ticking inside.
Why we ignore the symptoms
We downplay symptoms. We power through fatigue, chalk up palpitations to caffeine, and blame dizziness on skipping breakfast. Unless someone has full-blown chest pain or collapses in front of us, we rarely think 'heart problem.'
There's also the age factor. Many assume cardiac arrests are for people over 60. But cases among 30- and 40-somethings are climbing, due to lifestyle changes, rising stress, poor sleep, and undiagnosed health conditions. And with younger people, symptoms are more likely to be missed.
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- News18
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Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : health heart Shefali Jariwala Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 28, 2025, 18:43 IST News india Why Heart Disease Is The No.1 Killer Of Indian Women: Doctors React To Shefali Jariwala's Death
India.com
an hour ago
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
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These conditions, often showing no symptoms in the early stages, steadily narrow and weaken blood vessels, laying the foundation for future heart-related it's conventional smoking or modern vaping, both introduce harmful chemicals that hasten the accumulation of fatty deposits in the blood vessels. This buildup, known as plaque, clogs arteries and restricts blood flow, greatly elevating the likelihood of a heart living with diabetes — and even those with mild insulin resistance — face a significantly greater danger of heart problems. Elevated glucose levels damage the blood vessels and impair their ability to function efficiently, heightening cardiovascular risk even in younger emotional stress, combined with insufficient or poor-quality sleep, can spark harmful changes within the cardiovascular system. Persistent tension may cause arterial spasms or promote inflammation, both of which can interfere with normal heart rhythms and blood overly sedentary lifestyle deprives the heart of the movement it needs to remain strong, while overexerting the body without proper recovery can place excessive strain on the heart. Both lack of activity and extreme workouts have been linked to weakened cardiac function and increased vulnerability to heart drugs such as cocaine and stimulant-based substances like amphetamines are known to trigger abrupt and severe cardiac episodes. These chemicals can cause sudden narrowing of arteries, abnormal heart rhythms, and increased blood pressure — all of which can be such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis don't just affect joints and skin — they can also inflict damage on the blood vessels. The body's own immune system, in a state of constant activation, may inflame arteries and raise the risk of plaque formation and arterial conditions such as Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy (HOCM) and Long QT Syndrome often remain undiagnosed, especially in younger populations. These hereditary heart irregularities can disrupt normal heart rhythms and may result in sudden, fatal cardiac incidents if not identified and managed in Rao emphasized that a person's external appearance of fitness does not always guarantee a healthy heart. Beneath the surface, several hidden factors can increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest—even in individuals who appear slim, active, and in good shape. Here's a breakdown of the underlying causes that can silently endanger seemingly healthy lives:Some people carry genetic abnormalities like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. This condition can exist without any noticeable signs, yet it significantly raises the risk of heart failure or arrhythmias, especially during physical rare, some individuals are born with unusual formations in their coronary arteries. These structural irregularities can hinder proper blood flow to the heart, especially during intense activity or stress. Often undiagnosed until a serious episode occurs, these anomalies can be such as Long QT syndrome or Brugada syndrome interfere with the heart's natural rhythm. These electrical conditions can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or erratically—sometimes leading to sudden collapse without any prior psychological strain or surging cortisol levels (the stress hormone) can overwhelm the cardiovascular system. Even those in good physical shape can experience what's often referred to as 'broken heart syndrome,' where acute emotional trauma results in a temporary, but severe, weakening of the heart muscle.A continuous state of internal inflammation—caused by an unhealthy diet, autoimmune diseases, or lingering infections—can gradually damage blood vessels and heart tissues. This inflammation may remain unnoticed for years but still contributes to long-term cardiovascular because someone is slim doesn't mean they're metabolically healthy. Some individuals suffer from a condition known as 'normal-weight obesity,' where harmful visceral fat accumulates around vital organs despite a normal body mass index. These hidden fat stores can disrupt hormones and metabolism, increasing the likelihood of heart Rao underlined that an impending cardiac arrest may manifest through different symptoms in men and women. Women are more likely to experience:Seek immediate help if you or someone experiences:⦁ Persistent chest pain, pressure, or tightness⦁ Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort⦁ Pain that spreads to arms, neck, back, jaw, or stomach⦁ Nausea or vomiting not linked to food⦁ Cold sweats or clammy skin⦁ Sudden fatigue or dizziness⦁ A feeling of dread or anxiety⦁ Golden Rule: If symptoms last more than 5 minutes, call emergency services — don't self-diagnose or certain factors like a genetic predisposition towards heart problems are out of your control, you can certainly lower your risk by following a heart healthy diet free from processed food items and high calorie dishes, explains Dr Rao.A heart-healthy diet focuses on anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich, and balanced eating. Top choices include:⦁ Fatty Fish: Salmon, mackerel, sardines (rich in omega-3s)⦁ Fruits and Vegetables: Berries, leafy greens, avocados⦁ Whole Grains: Oats, quinoa, barley, brown rice⦁ Nuts and Seeds: Walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds⦁ Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, beans Olive Oil : Replace butter or ghee for cooking⦁ Dark Chocolate (in moderation): Contains heart-healthy flavonoids⦁ Green Tea: May reduce blood pressure and cholesterol⦁ Low-fat Dairy or Fortified Plant Milk: For calcium and potassiumLimit your intake of processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, excess sodium, and trans outlined by the British Heart Foundation , it is important to understand that a heart attack and a cardiac arrest are two distinct medical emergencies, even though they are often confused.A heart attack occurs when one of the coronary arteries—the vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle—becomes obstructed. When this blockage happens, the flow of blood to a portion of the heart is disrupted, depriving it of the oxygen it needs to function properly. Without prompt medical intervention, this oxygen deprivation can lead to the gradual damage or death of heart muscle contrast, a cardiac arrest is a much more immediate and life-threatening event. It takes place when the heart suddenly stops functioning as a pump and fails to circulate blood throughout the body. As a result, the individual stops breathing or breathes abnormally and loses consciousness very quickly. This condition requires urgent resuscitation, often with CPR or a defibrillator, to restart the heart and restore to the British Heart Foundation, in many adult cases, cardiac arrests are actually triggered by a heart attack. This happens because the damage or stress caused by the heart attack can lead to an abnormal and potentially fatal heart rhythm—known medically as an arrhythmia—which may then result in the heart ceasing to beat the relationship between these two conditions is crucial. While a heart attack is primarily a circulation problem caused by blocked arteries, a cardiac arrest is an electrical issue where the heart's rhythm fails, often as a consequence of the damage done during a heart attack. Recognizing the symptoms early and responding quickly can mean the difference between life and death.
