Youngsters rush to get hearts checked after Puneeth Rajkumars sudden death

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.

Also Read | Actor Puneeth Rajkumar donates eyes, gives sight to four

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.

Also Read | Watch | Puneeth Rajkumar’s fans gather in thousands for last glimpse of star

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.