Belur: The Hassan district in Karnataka is grappling with a deeply unsettling trend that has created panic among the residents. The district has witnessed a surge in sudden cardiac deaths among young and middle-aged people.
In just one month, twelve people between the ages of 20 and 38 have died from heart attacks, prompting alarm and urgent calls for preventative measures. The recent deaths of 35-year-old Nishad Ahmed, a well-known social worker who ran a tea canteen in Belur, and 38-year-old Chetan, a mobile shop owner in Sathyamangala, have raised an alarming phenomenon which has been continuing for some time.
Nishad, known for his compassionate work during the COVID-19 pandemic, collapsed and died unexpectedly; similarly, Chetan suffered a fatal heart attack while having lunch, creating a wave of fear among the locals.
The scale of the crisis is alarming. Over the past month alone, a list of victims has emerged:
Abhishek (Arakalagud taluk, May 20th), Sandhya (20-year-old student, Holenarasipura, May 20th), Kavana (degree student, May 28th), Nishant (Holenarasipura, June 11th), Nagappa (transport worker, June 12th), Neelakantappa (former CMC member, June 12th), Devaraj (June 13th), Satish (June 13th), Kantharaju (June 14th), Naveen (forest department employee, June 18th), and finally, Nishad Ahmed and Chetan (June 21st). This surge is not an isolated incident. District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Sudhakar Anil reports 507 heart attacks in the past two years, with 140 fatalities, a disproportionate number involving younger individuals. Notably, 14 deaths occurred among those aged 20-30, 40 among the 30-40 age group, and 136 among those over 40.
This disturbing pattern is attributed to several factors, including unhealthy lifestyles, imbalanced diets, and escalating stress levels among the younger generation. In response, the health department is planning a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting schools, colleges, and primary health centres to educate residents about heart health, the importance of regular check-ups, and the need to seek immediate medical attention for any chest pains.
Cardiologist Ashrit Sridhar emphasises the critical importance of not ignoring chest pain, advising immediate medical consultation and testing to prevent potentially fatal outcomes
