Shefali Jariwala dies of cardiac arrest at 42: 5 warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest that should never be ignored
The sudden death of actor and model Shefali Jariwala has left many in shock. Famously remembered for her appearance in the early 2000s hit song Kaanta Laga, Shefali reportedly suffered a sudden cardiac arrest late on the night of June 27.
Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital in Mumbai, she was declared dead. She was only 42.
While the exact cause of her death remains unconfirmed, initial reports suggest a sudden cardiac arrest, an emergency condition where the heart abruptly stops beating. It serves as a grim reminder that cardiac arrest isn't something that only affects the elderly or those with a known heart condition. Often, the body gives subtle signs, hints that may not seem urgent but could be life-saving if caught in time.
Here are five warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest that are often misunderstood, misjudged, or ignored.
Sudden,
unexplained fatigue
that feels 'different'
It's common to feel tired after a long day. But when the fatigue comes without reason, feels deep and lingering, and doesn't improve with rest, it's worth noticing.
According to the
American Heart Association
, unexplained fatigue can be one of the earliest symptoms of heart trouble, especially in women. In cases that led up to cardiac arrest, many have reported a draining kind of tiredness days or even weeks before the episode. It may not feel like sleepiness, but more like a loss of energy that creeps in and lingers.
What's important is how it feels: if the body feels unusually sluggish, especially with minor tasks like walking short distances or climbing stairs, it may not be 'just tiredness.'
Feeling of tightness or 'pressure' in the chest, not pain
Many believe that
cardiac
events begin with chest pain. But the reality is, it often starts with something more subtle, a sensation of tightness, fullness, or even discomfort in the chest that's hard to describe.
This is especially true in people under 50 and in women, where the signs tend to differ from the classic 'clutching-the-chest' type symptom.
Some have described it as a heaviness, like a belt tightening across the chest or an invisible weight pressing down.
Such sensations should not be dismissed as gas, muscle strain, or stress. If this feeling appears suddenly or gets worse with exertion, it might signal that the heart isn't getting enough oxygen, an early step before cardiac arrest.
Irregular heartbeats or the sense that the heart is 'skipping'
A racing heart after exercise or stress is normal. But when the heart begins to beat unusually fast, too slow, or with skipped beats, without any clear cause, it's worth checking.
This condition, known as
arrhythmia
, is often seen in people before they suffer a cardiac arrest. Sometimes, it's felt as palpitations, a fluttering or pounding in the chest. In other cases, it may be silent and only show up in medical tests.
What's dangerous is when these rhythm changes happen during rest or sleep, or when paired with dizziness or shortness of breath. It suggests the electrical signals in the heart are misfiring, a key factor in cardiac arrest.
Shortness of breath that appears out of nowhere
Breathlessness isn't always tied to lung issues. In many cardiac cases, especially before a sudden arrest, there is a strange breathlessness that feels out of proportion.
This can occur even while sitting still or doing light activity. It may feel like not being able to 'catch' the breath fully, even though the lungs seem fine. In some, it's accompanied by a mild chest discomfort or light-headedness.
The medical explanation? When the heart can't pump effectively, oxygen supply drops, leading to difficulty breathing.
This may show up a few days before a major cardiac event, offering a critical window for action.
Identifying underlying conditions that predispose to sudden cardiac arrest
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or about to faint
A dizzy spell can happen due to many harmless reasons. But sudden, unexplained dizziness, especially when accompanied by nausea, sweating, or paleness, should not be brushed off.
Cardiac arrest often comes with poor blood flow to the brain. When the heart isn't pumping properly, the brain quickly senses the shortfall. This results in dizziness, confusion, or even temporary blackouts in some.
Many people who suffered cardiac arrest later reported they had fainted or felt faint in the days before, but didn't associate it with the heart. These fainting episodes can be silent alarms, especially in people who have no history of such issues.
[This article is based on available reports and health guidelines]
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Dr Akhoury further explains that women's arteries behave differently than men's—plaque builds up in different patterns, making traditional diagnostic tools less effective. Emotional health, he adds, plays a much bigger role in women's heart risks than previously acknowledged. 'Anxiety, depression, and chronic stress—these can all quietly increase the risk of heart disease,' he warns. And after menopause, that risk spikes significantly. Behind the numbers: Young women at risk Why are more women in their 30s and 40s facing such deadly outcomes? According to Dr Anupama V. Hegde, Senior Consultant at Ramaiah Institute of Cardiac Sciences, the answers lie in a web of factors—structural heart diseases, rhythm abnormalities, coronary artery disease, and a lifestyle that's become increasingly taxing. 'Sudden cardiac arrest in young women is devastating—and it's accounting for nearly one-third of all female deaths,' she says. 'Unhealthy eating habits, high stress levels, poor sleep, rising diabetes and hypertension rates, and sedentary lifestyles have all converged. And young women are bearing the brunt.' The rise in spontaneous coronary artery dissections—a rare but serious heart event—has also been observed more frequently in women under 50, often those without traditional risk factors. The genetic card: A silent player But lifestyle alone doesn't tell the whole story. Genetic predisposition plays a powerful, often hidden role in determining heart disease risk—especially in women who seem otherwise healthy. Dr Ramesh Menon, Director of Personal Genomics and Genomic Medicine, believes we're now entering an era where precision medicine can save lives. 'For women over 40, standard tests often miss early red flags. Genetic testing allows us to assess individual risk long before any symptom appears.' Hormonal shifts, especially during perimenopause and menopause, interact with genetics to significantly alter heart risk profiles. Add in smoking, irregular sleep, and chronic emotional labor—and you have a perfect storm. 'Genetics isn't destiny,' Dr Menon says, 'but knowing your predisposition can empower you to take action early—through diet, medication, or lifestyle change.' The emotional labor that goes unseen There's also a cultural layer we cannot ignore. Women, particularly in India, are often conditioned to put themselves last—juggling careers, caregiving, emotional support roles, and endless to-do lists. They normalize fatigue. They silence discomfort. And they delay check-ups because there's always someone else to take care of first. But the consequences of that invisibility can be fatal. A moment to mourn—and to wake up Tributes are now pouring in across social media. Videos of Shefali dancing, her glowing skin, her confident voice—they're all being shared with disbelief and grief. She was, for many, a symbol of fearlessness and flair. But now, amid the mourning, there's a growing question: how many more young women have to die before we start taking their heart health seriously? This is not just about one celebrity. This is about a generation of women walking through life with hidden heart risks—unseen, unspoken, and untreated. What can you do—right now? Doctors across the board offer the same advice: get proactive. Whether you're 25 or 55, it's time to take your heart seriously. Know your numbers: Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and BMI. Listen to your body: Fatigue, breathlessness, unexplained pain—don't ignore it. Manage stress: Mental health is cardiac health. Move more, sit less: Even 30 minutes a day of walking helps. Ask about family history and consider genetic testing: Especially if early deaths run in your family. Don't dismiss symptoms just because you're young or 'fit'. Because sometimes, it's not just another tiring day. It's your heart waving a red flag. Shefali Jariwala lit up every frame she was in. Her story now becomes something more—a cautionary tale, a wake-up call, and a reason for women everywhere to listen more closely to their bodies. She danced like no one was watching. Now, her silence leaves us with questions that demand answers. Rest in peace, Shefali. Your voice, your courage, and your story might just save lives.
