What caused a sudden surge in cardiac deaths among youngsters in Karnataka’s Hassan

The Karnataka government has ordered a probe into the alarming surge in deaths among youngsters due to heart attacks in Hassan district—18 cases reported in the past one month—and formed a committee of health experts to study the situation.

 

“The health department has taken the 18 heart attack cases reported in Hassan district within a month seriously,” Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said.

 

Rao said he had instructed the department officials to form a team under the leadership of the Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research to investigate the increase in heart attacks and submit a report.

 

He said that health problems among youngsters have seen a rise due to modern lifestyles, food habits, excessive use of mobile phones, and digital addiction.

 

The minister also noted that the state government has implemented the Puneeth Rajkumar Heart Jyoti Scheme to prevent sudden heart attacks. 

 

However, Rao acknowledged that the cases in Hassan have underscored the need for comprehensive research regarding the recent trend of young people suffering from heart attacks.

 

According to the New Indian Express newspaper, 21 people suffered cardiac arrest in Hassan in the last 40 days and all the victims were aged between 30 to 55 years. On Monday alone, three deaths were reported.

 

The team of experts led by Dr C.N. Ravindra of Jayadeva Institute will look into the reasons behind such multiple cases of heart attacks in Hassan and submit a report in ten days.

 

The government has, meanwhile, instructed the health department to launch district-wide ECG and blood pressure screening camps, particularly targeting rural areas.

Health