Prashant Tamang dies of cardiac arrest: How is it different from heart attack? AIIMS cardiologist explains hidden risks

Singer and actor Prashant Tamang's sudden death sent shockwaves across the country. The Indian Idol Season 3 winner passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest in Delhi.

Talking to Livemint, eminent cardiologist Dr Nitish Naik stressed that cardiac arrest is potentially linked to lifestyle disorders.

Dr Naik, who is the Senior Consultant and Additional Professor of Cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said, “Coronary artery disease is not essentially a disease of the middle-aged or elderly. Blocks start appearing in our arteries at a much younger age, in the 20s and 30s. When someone is indulging in an unhealthy life, especially among city people with a sedentary lifestyle with unhealthy eating habits such as binge-eating and lots of addictions, all of these contribute to heart diseases."

As people are exposed to different lifestyles, the rapid availability of fast food and unhealthy items increases the risks of heart problems.

“It is much easier to buy a packet of chips, cola or any carbohydrate beverage than healthier options like lassi, nimbu pani or a fruit. This is one of the terrible things about globalisation. A lot of food that we eat contains trans fat, which our body can't digest. These fats have entered the food chains as foods need to be preserved for a long time without becoming rancid. People are now consuming this food in large quantities because it is easily available, cheap and can be stored for long. More and more people have not been physically active, which has become a problem, taking a toll on our health," noted Dr Naik.

In cardiac arrest, the heart simply stops and is called the most serious case. There are various reasons behind a cardiac arrest, such as blockages, which is called a heart attack. It can also occur due to abnormality in the heart muscle or cardiomyopathy, or abnormality in the electrical conduction of the heart or arrhythmia.

“In cardiac arrest, the heart does not contract or beat. There are lots of reasons why a person can develop it. A heart attack is a layman's term for a sudden blockage in the heart's artery that leads to the stoppage of blood flow and weakening of muscle, causing cardiac arrest,” explained Dr Naik.

The doctor noted that even a healthy-looking individual may develop a heart blockage at any time. Hence, it is important to spread the awareness around Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

“Cardiac arrest can be the initial manifestation of a heart attack.”

A person may have no health problems yet can develop a blockage, which can become the first sign of a cardiac arrest. Even patients who appear perfectly fine, even running marathons or engaging in extreme sports, and otherwise very healthy, may suddenly develop a heart attack.

“They will be fine, and suddenly, in a few seconds, they collapse. Because heart attacks can happen so abruptly, quickly. The only way to make a person reach a hospital is by CPR,” opined the cardiologist.

"If somebody has a cardiac arrest and you are able to do CPR immediately, the probability, according to science, is that there’s a 90% chance you will get the person back to life."