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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
Is participating in marathons a safe endeavour?
NEW DELHI: A 51-year-old man passed away from sudden cardiac death during a marathon race in Delhi on Sunday. He was rushed to Moolchand Hospital, where medical professionals pronounced him dead.
Lately, there has been a surge in cases of people experiencing cardiac arrests and succumbing during marathon events. This trend has sparked inquiries about the nature of sudden cardiac deaths and whether participating in marathons is a safe endeavour.
In an exclusive interview with The New Indian, Chief Cardiologist Moolchand Medcity NewDelhi, Heart Institute, H.K. Chopra, discussed the demise of the 51-year-old and the growing incidence of sudden cardiac fatalities.
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What causes sudden cardiac arrest?
Speaking on the causes of cardiac arrests, Chopra said, “The main reason behind such deaths is increased sympathetic overdrive. We use a formula for every person which consists of misusing his/her age from 220. For instance, this man’s age was 51 and hence minusing it from 220 gets 169. So, regardless of how much he exercises, the heart rate shouldn’t go up 169.”
This represents the designated heart rate threshold that, when surpassed, is termed “elevated sympathetic overdrive.” Beyond this rate, the heart enters a state of fibrillation, leading to sudden cardiac arrest and fatality.
Who should not participate in marathon drives?
According to the doctor, the following common factors lead to sudden deaths:
To avert such fatalities, the doctor recommended undergoing a comprehensive fitness assessment by cardiologists to identify and mitigate potential risks. He emphasised that without scrutinising these factors, it is challenging to preempt cases of sudden cardiac death.
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The doctor also mentioned that there is a difference between heart attack and sudden cardiac death. While a heart attack is caused by blockage of arteries, sudden cardiac death occurs when the heartbeat goes above the target heart rate.
