Nana Patekar’s death has drawn attention to the critical need for immediate response to sudden cardiac arrest
NEW DELHI: The death of veteran actor Nana Patekar at 75 has put the spotlight once again on sudden cardiac arrest, a medical emergency in which the heart abruptly stops pumping blood effectively and requires immediate resuscitation.
Dr Garg also said unexplained symptoms should not be ignored, particularly by people with cardiac risk factors. For those living alone, recognising warning symptoms early and seeking medical attention promptly becomes even more important, he said. The circulation generated by CPR is not the same as that produced by a normally functioning heart, but it can help keep vital organs supplied with blood while emergency treatment is arranged. For a sudden collapse in an adult, a bystander can start hands-only CPR with chest compressions rather than wait for formal training or mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing, provided the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally.