The sudden demise of Olympian and former Indian shooter Jaspal Rana has plunged the nation into mourning. He passed away at a hospital in Delhi on Thursday at the age of 49. Rana had recently undergone a stent procedure after experiencing chest discomfort during the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.
Delay in Treatment Proved Fatal
Rana's brother, Subash Rana, informed the media that the shooter initially mistook the discomfort for acidity and continued with his travel itinerary. Only when the discomfort persisted did he seek medical help. By then, the condition had worsened significantly.
Dr. Balbir Singh, Group Chairman of Cardiac Sciences at Pan Max and Chief of Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, explained to TOI Health: "Mr. Jaspal Rana presented with an acute heart attack that was already three days old. He had been travelling and continued to experience chest pain before arriving at the hospital in a very critical condition."
Dr. Singh added: "The artery responsible for the heart attack was completely blocked. His heart's pumping function was severely weakened, and he was in heart failure. Patients who present late after a heart attack are at risk of serious complications, including cardiac rupture, which can lead to sudden death."
"Mr. Rana had recovered significantly and was fit for discharge today. However, he unfortunately suffered a sudden cardiac rupture while asleep, which led to his demise."
Rising Heart Attacks in Younger Adults
Dr. G Dimpu Edwin Jonathan, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore, highlighted a worrying trend: "One worrying trend from the past two decades or so is that heart attacks, which used to show up more often in people in their 50s and 60s, are now increasingly being spotted in those in their 30s and 40s."
He advised: "If you’re above 30 to 35 years of age, especially if you’re living under chronic stress, or you have a family history of young people having heart attacks, it’s wise to get routine blood tests and also sit down with a cardiologist to gauge cardiac risk. A sign that’s often overlooked is a kind of heart attack that shows up and feels exactly like gastritis or classic heartburn."
"When heartburn comes with extreme tiredness, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, or even profuse sweating, please don’t delay, get an ECG done right away, to rule out a heart attack. For anyone with a family history of heart attacks, waiting until symptoms appear isn’t a smart strategy."
Key Signs of Heart Trouble
The American Heart Association notes that many heart attacks begin slowly, with mild discomfort that is easy to dismiss or mistake for something else. The most recognizable warning sign is chest discomfort. Most people experiencing a heart attack feel it in the center of the chest, and it may last more than a few minutes or come and go. It does not always feel like sharp pain; it can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or a vague heaviness. Many describe it as something sitting on their chest. Because it does not match expectations, they often wait.
Chest discomfort is not the only symptom. Pain or discomfort may also appear in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, sometimes without any chest involvement. Shortness of breath is another major warning sign, occurring with or without chest discomfort. Other signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, unusual tiredness, lightheadedness, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat.
About the Author: Maitree Baral is a health journalist dedicated to making medical science digestible and healthcare approachable. She covers wellness trends and life-changing medical research, turning complex health topics into engaging, actionable stories.
