Bhubaneswar: Thespian Nana Patekar’s demise due to cardiac arrest has left experts concerned over people neglecting medical emergency. Experts on Thursday advised immediate medical consultation in case of symptoms like uneasiness, unusual sweating, dizziness and chest pain.Dr Sujit Kumar Tripathy, consultant cardiologist, said people may experience chest pain, heaviness in chest, dizziness and profuse sweating before suffering a cardiac arrest. People with diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, and smokers are more at risk of cardiac arrest. “If such symptoms appear, a person should visit a hospital immediately and seek treatment. I have seen many young people suffer heart attacks,” he added.Tripathy said young people often believe they would not suffer a heart attack because they are fit. “They relate chest pain to indigestion or gastric issues but do not realise it could be a warning sign of a heart attack. Good and stress-free lifestyle, balanced diet and periodic health checkup can prevent cardiac arrest,” he added.Dr Satyanarayan Routray, a cardiologist and former head of the cardiology department at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, said people with a history of heart-related issues may suffer cardiac arrest. “If a person is not aware of any heart problem, he or she may suffer cardiac arrest after sudden stress, mental exhaustion, emotional outburst, irregular heartbeat or uneasiness after heavy meals,” he added.He said many elderly people usually have hypertension, diabetes and coronary disease, putting them into high risk. Precipitating factors can sometimes lead to cardiac arrest. “If a person has a history of heart issues, age-related risk factors or symptoms like unusual sweating, uneasiness or chest pain, he or she should immediately go to a hospital for treatment,” he added.Dr PK Dash, director of cardiology at Capital Hospital here, said some people suffer cardiac arrest without showing any symptoms. “In such cases, it is difficult to know when he or she may suffer cardiac arrest. People with a history of heart attack, chain smokers, and those with coronary disease and comorbidities can suffer cardiac arrest,” he added.He said lifestyle modifications, controlling blood pressure and diabetes, quitting smoking and doing physical activity could help people prevent heart-related issues. “Preventive check-ups can also help people know about their heart health much earlier, and they can take steps accordingly,” he added.
