ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

19-Yr-Old Collapses to Death, Could it Have Been a Cardiac Arrest?

21-year-old Aniket Sharma reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest during a warming up session in Kolkata.

Updated
Fit
4 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

A 19-year-old student of 12th standard collapsed to his death on Saturday 2 March. The incident occurred while he was writing his exam in Secunderabad, Telangana, reported The News Minute. M Gopi Raju complained of chest pain before the collapse. The report further stated that while the official cause of death is still unclear, police suspect it to be a cardiac arrest.

In a similar case a little over a month ago, a young athlete had collapsed collapsed on the field during a warm-up. The accident took place on 15 January, when the 21-year-old had to be rushed to the hospital by his teammates where he was reportedly declared brought dead due to a cardiac arrest.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Aniket Sharma was a left-handed batsman who had joined the cricket academy in Kolkata in 2018.

Traditionally, sudden deaths linked to the heart have been associated with people who are 60 years old or above. So what exactly happened in these two cases where both the afflicted were young, while one was also an athlete, an ideal example of a healthy and fit person?

While it remains to be confirmed if Raju suffered a cardiac arrest, Dr Mukesh Goel, a cardiac surgeon at Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, pointed out that the latter case is definitely different. To further understand what could have happened here’s a look at some basic functioning of the human heart.

0

Heart Attack and Cardiac Arrest

The class 12th student was writing his exam when the incident occurred in Secunderabad, Telangana.
When a heart attack happens, there are abnormalities in the electrical and muscular structure of the heart.
(Photo: iStockphoto)

When a heart attack happens, there are abnormalities in the electrical and muscular structure of the heart and there is no way to prevent it, points out Dr Goel.

When a heart attack takes place, there is a clot in one of the coronary arteries which leads to the death of the musculature related to that artery.
Dr Mukesh Goel

However, this is different from a cardiac arrest.

People often term sudden death as a heart attack, when in most cases it’s a cardiac arrest which leads to the collapse. During a cardiac arrest, which is caused by what is called ventricular fibrillation, the heart suddenly stops functioning; the arteries are just fine. There’s no reason why it happens or the activity in the musculature stops.
Dr Mukesh Goel

The doctor assumes that this is probably what happened with the young athlete as well.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

3 Situations That Can Cause a Heart Attack, On the Field or Off

The class 12th student was writing his exam when the incident occurred in Secunderabad, Telangana.
If a heart is already weak, it has grown accustomed to low blood circulation. However, a healthy heart is unprepared for a sudden drop in the flow.
(Photo: iStockphoto)

According to Dr Arvind Das, senior cardiologist at Max Hospital, Gurgaon, there is a very specific heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where an athlete can suddenly fall to their death on the field.

1. This condition is marked by a thickening of one part of the heart muscle, making it harder to pump blood. This, in turn, causes an imbalance in the demand and supply of blood, adds Dr Das.

This is an inherited condition and is the most common cause of a sudden collapse or ‘silent death’ in the sporting world.
Dr Arvind Das

In order to avoid this, the doctor points out, screening is important from an early age.

Screening starts as early as at five years of age. If a child has been identified, it’s important for them to avoid competitive sports. Otherwise they can go ahead to lead normal lives.
Dr Arvind Das
ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

2. The second instance of a heart attack on the field, or on a treadmill, another place where in rare situations, young, fit people might go into a fatal heart emergency, is when due to some reason, a sudden blood clot forms in the heart. The clot blocks the blood to an artery thereby leading to a heart attack.

This sudden drop in the flow is especially harmful for a healthy heart unaccustomed to functioning at low blood circulation. If a heart is already weak, it would have already grown used to it.

Sometimes extreme levels of physical activity or mental stress can cause an artery to break off. This disruption of the normal lining of the artery creates a raw area, much like a wound, where a blood clot can accumulate, thereby disrupting the blood flow.
Dr Arvind Das

3. Another situation is when there is gradual deposition of cholesterol in the heart over the years. This can start as early as at five years of age.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

Does Exercise Make You More Inclined?

The class 12th student was writing his exam when the incident occurred in Secunderabad, Telangana.
The doctor further adds that 50 percent of all cardiac arrest-related deaths are preventable with some basic first aid.
(Photo: iStock altered by The Quint)

Dr Goel further points out that during exercise, a person is more inclined to get a cardiac arrest. This is true of all age groups.

Look at it like driving a car. The higher the speed, the harder the engine has to work to power it. Similarly, when you’re exercising your pulse rate increases and goes as high as 130-140 per minute. The heart contracts harder and expels more blood with every beat. This is also true of everyone in all age groups.
Dr Mukesh Goel

The doctor further adds that 50 percent of all cardiac arrest-related deaths are preventable with some basic first aid. This includes CPR and massaging along with the use of defibrillators.

This is why it’s important for all schools, offices, colleges and gyms to give a basic CPR training, he says.

Dr Das adds that in case of a sudden collapse on a field, CPR should be administered immediately as first aid. Pumping at the rate of 60-70 times a minute should help before professional intervention arrives. While cases like this one might be rare anecdotes, he says, it’s important to proceed gradually when trying to push boundaries of the body.

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from fit

Topics:  Athlete   Heart Attack   Cardiac Arrest 

Published: 
Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More