The sudden heart attack deaths of four individuals in a single day in Karnataka’s Hassan district have sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting a silent epidemic unfolding across India.
With 22 deaths linked to heart-related conditions in the district over the past 40 days, many among young and middle-aged adults, health experts are sounding the alarm.
On June 30 alone, four men aged between 50 and 63 died suddenly of cardiac events, including a professor, a government employee, and two local residents. The youngest victim among the 22 reported deaths in recent weeks was just 19 years old.
As anxiety rises, hospitals like Bengaluru’s Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences are reporting an 8% surge in outpatient visits, many from Hassan and surrounding areas, as worried residents seek precautionary check-ups.
The heart crisis in Karnataka came to light after the death of actor and model Shefali Jariwala, who suffered a cardiac arrest on June 27 at age 42.
“I NOW SEE YOUNG PATIENTS EVERY OTHER DAY”: DR. RAMAKANTA PANDA
Cardiac surgeon Dr. Ramakanta Panda, Chairman of the Asian Heart Institute, says this worrying trend is not a coincidence, but a direct outcome of widespread lifestyle deterioration.
“Thirty years ago, I would see one 30-year-old with cardiac arrest in a year. Today, I see cases almost every other day, sometimes four in a single day,” Dr. Panda tells IndiaToday.in.
According to him, the spike in sudden cardiac deaths, especially among individuals in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, is largely not due to genetics, but the result of cumulative lifestyle abuse.
A DEADLY MIX: STRESS, POOR SLEEP, BAD DIET
Dr. Panda highlights five recurring culprits: sedentary lifestyles (high inactivity), poor dietary habits, chronic stress, tobacco use, and inadequate sleep.
“People are not sleeping by 10 pm, they’re not getting eight hours of rest, they consume fried, fatty, and sugary foods, and many continue to use smokeless tobacco, which is more dangerous than smoking,” he says.
He adds that these habits, especially when combined, are creating the “perfect storm” for cardiovascular collapse.
While a small percentage of cases may involve undiagnosed congenital defects such as cardiomyopathy, most patients who suffer sudden cardiac arrest appear outwardly healthy.
“Even a structurally normal heart can stop beating under severe stress, physical or mental. I’ve seen young people collapse after working or binge-watching for over 30 hours straight. It’s the surge of stress hormones that destabilises the heart,” he says.
WHEN THE YOUNG PUSH TOO HARD
Among the most vulnerable are those who suddenly overexert themselves, like untrained runners participating in endurance events.
“Many cardiac arrests during marathons happen in the last mile when people push beyond what their bodies are conditioned for,” Dr. Panda explains. “It’s a dangerous illusion that youth equals invincibility.”
SUPPLEMENT CULTURE: PROCEED WITH CAUTION
With growing awareness of heart risks, many individuals have turned to supplements, IV drips, and anti-ageing therapies. But Dr. Panda urges skepticism.
“There’s no scientific evidence for IV wellness therapies like glutathione. Anything that bypasses the gut and goes straight into the bloodstream carries risk and should never be taken casually,” he cautions.
He also warns against the unsupervised use of new weight-loss drugs, such as GLP-1 agonists, citing rare but serious side effects like pancreatitis.
“These medications must only be used under medical supervision. The long-term effects are still unknown,” he adds.
Dr. Panda recommends a return to the fundamentals: balanced meals, daily movement, routine sleep, and managing emotional stress.
He acknowledges the benefit of science-backed supplements like vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids, but only if you deficient in these elements.
“What we need is not a new pill, but a cultural shift in how we care for our hearts. This wave of young deaths is preventable, if we act early,” highlights Dr. Panda.
The Karnataka Health Department has formed a committee, headed by Dr. Ravindranath, Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, to investigate the cause of these deaths. The move comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggested there could be a link to the Covid vaccine or other health-related factors.
According to the District Health and Family Welfare Department, Hassan has recorded 507 heart attack cases over the past two years, of which 190 were fatal — a warning sign of a wider health emergency.
– Ends
