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.
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]
