Death of 42-year-old Rohan Mirchandani, co-founder of the yogurt brand Epigamycaused shock and concern across the country. The young entrepreneur died of cardiac arrest, a medical condition that is rare in young people but common these days.
The news of Mirchandani’s death was confirmed by Drums Food International. “All of us in the Epigamia family will mourn this loss deeply. Rohan was our teacher, friend and leader. We remain steadfast in our determination to realize his dream with strength and energy. Rohan’s vision and values will continue to guide us as we work together to honor the foundation he built and ensure his dream continues to flourish,” Drums Food said in an official statement. NYU Stern and The Wharton School graduate Rohan Mirchandani became a co-founder Drums Food International in 2013
What is cardiac arrest?
Cardiac arrest is a sudden, life-threatening condition in which the heart stops beating effectively, cutting off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. This occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, often due to arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation. Symptoms include sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, and no pulse or breathing. Cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which involves a blockage of blood flow to the heart.
Cardiac arrest in young peoplealthough less common than in older populations, is a growing concern due to a variety of underlying factors. One of the main causes is undiagnosed heart disease, for example hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic disorder that thickens the heart muscle, leading to electrical instability. Other inherited arrhythmias, such as long QT syndrome or Brugada syndrome, can also predispose young people to sudden cardiac events. Often these conditions go undetected until cardiac arrest occurs.
Another contributing factor is lifestyle and environmental factors, such as vigorous physical activity without appropriate medical examination. Competitive sports, for example, can be a trigger for those with undiagnosed heart disease. Substance abuse, including recreational drugs such as cocaine, or excessive alcohol consumption can cause arrhythmias and increase the risk of cardiac arrest.
Stress and lifestyle factors, including poor sleep, unhealthy diet and chronic stress, can contribute to the early onset of heart disease. In addition, untreated infections, such as myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) after viral diseases, can lead to heart complications.
Increasing awareness of preventive measures, routine cardiac screening and early detection of underlying diseases is important to reduce the incidence of cardiac arrest among young people. Prompt access to CPR and defibrillation is also critical to increasing survival.
