The death of
Puneeth Rajkumar, 46, has sent shockwaves across Karnataka. While many feel the
loss of a favourite superstar, the young actor’s death has also made youngsters
wary of their cardiovascular health. Doctors say they have seen a sudden rush
of patients for heart check-ups after Puneeth Rajkumar died.

“After Puneeth
Rajkumar sir’s death I don’t want to take any chance,” one such patient told NDTV
who had travelled 180 kilometers from Hassan district to Bangalore to get his
heart health checked.

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Media reports show
that footfall at almost all cardiac diagnosis and treatment hospitals in
Karnataka have gone up since the actor’s death. Doctors, meanwhile, are having
a tough time convincing patients that there should either be a family history
or multiple symptoms for cardiac problems.

This being the
festive season, OPD arrivals are already up by nearly 25%. Trying to assuage
fears, doctors are pointing to the multiple risk factors that people should
take into account before rushing to the doctor. Risk factors for heart disease
include a family history of heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, smoking and
high stress levels.

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Meanwhile, gyms are
having a difficult time retaining youngsters, say observers. “Now, people have
the fear that if they go to the gym and do aggressive exercise, they may suffer
a heart attack,” said D Steve, the founder of a gym in Bangalore who wanted to
reiterate that “gym has nothing to do with heart attack”.

The Karnataka
government has decided to come up with guidelines for gyms. Dr K Sudhakar, the
state’s health minister, is said to have approached experts for guidelines.

On October 29, 46-year-old
Puneeth Rajkumar was reportedly did his regular workouts along with boxing and
steam sessions. Exhausted, Puneeth visited a doctor at around 11:20 am. The doctor
ran some tests and found a strain in his ECG (echocardiogram). Rajkumar was
referred to Vikram Hospital where he had a sudden death.