Fit At 40, Yet Cardiac Arrest Struck: How Doctors Saved A Gym-Goer In 8 Minutes And Revealed The Hidden Trigger

For Mohit Sachdeva, 40, July 9 began like any other morning a Delhi realtor from Lajpat Nagar. For the past 20 years, he’d hit the gym at 7:15 am without fail. But that morning, everything changed. By 8:45 am, while leg-pressing 180 kg, Mohit suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. He had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

In such cases, every second counts-and the first eight minutes can mean life or death. Thankfully, help was right there. Thanks to immediate action, Mohit survived the scare and lived to share his story.

Ruby Sachdeva still recalls the phone call that turned her world upside down. Friends from the gym told her Mohit had collapsed and was rushed to Medanta-Moolchand Heart Centre.

“What saved him was the cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) that somebody in the gym gave him,” she says.

CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, involves chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep blood and oxygen flowing when the heart suddenly stops. It’s often the only chance of survival during cardiac arrest.

Sadly, many young lives are lost in India each year simply because CPR isn’t given in time.

The Power of Quick Action

By the time Mohit reached the hospital, he had no pulse. Doctors immediately began advanced CPR and administered electric shocks. When a faint pulse finally appeared on the monitor, he was placed on a ventilator.

“Every minute after a sudden cardiac arrest is critical because the brain starts dying in the absence of oxygenated blood flow. Then the organs shut down one by one,” explains Dr. Abbas Ali Khatai, ER consultant.

It was this rapid response that made all the difference

Once Mohit’s heartbeat stabilized, Dr. Tarun Kumar, interventional cardiologist at Medanta-Moolchand Heart Centre, began treatment to raise his blood pressure. Tests including an ECG and bedside echocardiogram were followed by an angiography-which revealed blockages in three heart vessels.

“Two arteries were completely blocked. We first did an angioplasty on the artery that had been blocked recently, a minimally invasive procedure to widen blood vessels, and put a stent, a mesh bridge to hold the walls apart and prevent them from narrowing again. Once the procedure restored blood flow in the arteries, the patient was then moved to the heart ICU, where he regained consciousness. We scheduled another procedure to open up his remaining arteries later so as not to destabilise a very compromised heart and the kidneys,” says Dr Kumar.

Mohit’s recovery progressed remarkably well. Within 24 hours, he was off the ventilator, and his blood pressure was brought under control. Just three days later, he was stable enough to return home. He’s now following a cardiac care routine as he awaits the next procedure to clear his remaining blockages.

Can a Heart Blockage Cause Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Yes-and that’s exactly what happened to Mohit. A blockage in a coronary artery can cut off blood supply to the heart muscle, leading to electrical instability. This can trigger dangerously irregular heart rhythms and, in severe cases, sudden cardiac arrest. “In Mohit’s case, the blockage triggered his cardiac arrest,” confirms Dr. Tarun Kumar.

He adds that many young, seemingly fit individuals skip heart screenings, unaware of hidden risks. Some may have inherited conditions like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart muscle), a genetic tendency for blood to clot quickly, or a family history of high cholesterol.

“That’s why all Indians need to get their cardiac tests done post-25 annually, especially those with a family history. And everybody should get a full cardiac workup and endurance test done before joining a gym,” Dr. Kumar advises.

What Mohit had brushed off for years turned out to be a warning sign

“He had been feeling a dull pain in his left arm during workouts for nearly two years but assumed it was just muscle strain,” says Dr. Kumar. A similar pain struck during a trek to Vaishno Devi, which he again dismissed as fatigue from the climb. In reality, it was angina-an early symptom of reduced blood flow to the heart.

Adding to the risk, Mohit also had undiagnosed high blood pressure. “If he had gone for a check-up earlier, this crisis could have been avoided,” Dr. Kumar emphasizes.

Warning signs like pain in the left arm, lower jaw discomfort, a choking or burning sensation in the chest, or unusual fatigue should never be ignored.

Could Unregulated Protein Powders Have Contributed to the Blockage?

Despite being a disciplined fitness enthusiast for over 20 years, Mohit had never undergone a cardiac evaluation. “We never felt the need because Mohit kept to a discipline. He never ate junk food or ordered food from outside, ate healthy at home, never smoked and drank within limits only at social occasions. We never went to a restaurant more than once a month,” she says. It was only after his heart episode that tests revealed that Mohit was hypertensive, had borderline high cholesterol and fatty liver. “But none of these conditions had manifested as symptoms,” says Ruby.

It was only after his heart scare that tests revealed hidden issues-hypertension, borderline high cholesterol, and a fatty liver. “None of these had shown any symptoms,” Ruby adds.

What changed recently was his use of gym supplements. Mohit had started consuming herbal products and protein powders, while spending over 90 minutes daily on cardio and strength training.

High doses of protein-especially from unregulated supplements-can strain the kidneys, lead to dehydration, and indirectly impact heart health. While no direct link has been confirmed, it’s a growing concern among health experts.

Can Too Much Protein Raise Heart Risks?

Emerging research suggests that consuming protein far beyond the body’s limits might do more harm than good. In a mice study, animals on a high-fat, high-protein diet developed more severe arterial plaque than those fed high fat but low protein. More worrying was the type of plaque-it was unstable and prone to breaking off, raising the risk of sudden blockages and heart attacks.

Dr. Tarun Kumar warns gym enthusiasts not to ignore early warning signs. “If you indulge in heavy or strenuous activity without addressing them, then it can have catastrophic effects. It can lead to a sudden heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest,” says Dr Kumar. he says.

CPR: A Lifesaving Skill Everyone Should Know

Dr. Abbas Ali Khatai stresses the need to teach CPR widely. “The timely administration by Mohit’s gym friends helped him. Others are not as lucky. Besides, why wait for a cardiac arrest which can even lead to permanent brain damage with patients going into coma with a tube in their throat? It leads to a big strain on the family financially, emotionally and mentally.”

He adds that many aren’t as fortunate. Cardiac arrest can cause irreversible brain damage or coma within minutes. “It’s a devastating burden-emotionally, mentally, and financially-for families,” he explains.

Life After a Cardiac Arrest: Recovery & Rehab

Surviving a cardiac arrest is just the beginning. Dr. Kumar recommends that “After that, we do a treadmill test before suggesting what he should do ahead. Physical activity does help in collateral formation, better fitness helps in better symptom control and all of this helps in controlling body weight.”