No need to panic over reports of sudden deaths due to heart attack: Jayadeva Director

The Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, K.S. Ravindranath, on Saturday urged people not to panic over the recent reports of sudden deaths due to heart attack, and advised them not to rush to the institute out of anxiety.

Speaking after inaugurating a newly built 30-bed block at the hospital here, Dr. Ravindranath said that the institute has been witnessing an increase in the inflow of outpatients following the scare over heart attacks. An additional 400 outpatients have been visiting the hospital, resulting in patient load.

Similar trends were being seen at the hospital branches in Bengaluru and Kalaburagi, he added.

Referring to the recent deaths in Hassan district, he said, “People are rushing to the institute out of fear. In reality, there was no increase in the number of deaths due to heart attack. Only the reportage of such deaths in the media has increased.”

He clarified that not all sudden deaths are related to heart attacks, as there could be other underlying reasons as well. The government has directed a detailed study into these cases, he added.

Dr. Ravindranath advised the people to first get themselves screened for blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, and mental stress by local doctors before visiting the institute.

Those in the age group of 30 to 40 can undergo heart check-ups as a precaution, he advised.