Sudden cardiac arrest in the gym: What you should know

Written by: Dr Subita Alagh Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 1 Aug 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-4319d48d-39c3-43b6-8264-2e683f25f675","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1993a64-d959-4f1a-9f15-93a325929a9b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A 40-year-old Delhi man’s cardiac arrest at the gym is a powerful reminder that fitness doesn’t always mean a healthy heart. Photo Credit: Freepik

A Routine Workout Turned Life-Threatening

[{"selector":"#anim-8d8bdd20-aeef-4f61-a25f-88b41aeeda25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8f3a7599-b7a6-49a1-9cc1-1834fde3580d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 149.46725%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-06bce05a-15fd-43cd-a710-df99d819679c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-40d871db-6c33-42e3-844d-22643e1d7406","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 320.42646%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This 40 year man was doing a leg press at the gym when he suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. Within seconds, his heart stopped beating. Photo Credit: Freepik

Quick CPR Made All the Difference

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No Pulse on Arrival

[{"selector":"#anim-c7f29034-de54-48a4-9440-83a2e677750c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99ac8c60-c903-4ebd-b1b2-0bd0152b210e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.16589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-034b7469-f32c-4eca-a8c3-d3d4f5709704","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c46b3992-4ccc-4d41-9db2-996bb9257d92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 743.84322%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] At the hospital, doctors found no heartbeat. Electric shocks and advanced CPR revived him. He was put on a ventilator to stabilize. Photo Credit: Freepik

Three Major Arteries Were Blocked

[{"selector":"#anim-db410386-601c-4f2c-b517-dc6c96be0225","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-28628c96-24ae-406d-a87a-0fdb1440ddc1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 245.59%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb262ac2-b83d-4010-930d-71df36484077","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a21d3cf6-d689-4b54-b658-284184534747","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.55573%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tests revealed severe heart disease, two arteries were fully blocked. Photo Credit: Freepik

Subtle Signs Ignored for Years

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He Looked Healthy, But Wasn’t

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Supplements May Have Added Stress

[{"selector":"#anim-8e0953d9-98c7-41b7-88dd-988960ac263b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55048414-10c3-4b71-aad6-0896b68cb9fa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.16589%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54b4543d-e8bb-4682-ad29-b26245fb24e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18f0d421-d2da-463e-90ab-ca2ed5d0e726","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.55573%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] He had recently begun protein powders and herbal supplements. Doctors warn unregulated use may impact kidney and heart health. Photo Credit: Freepik

Fast Action and Rehab Helped Him Recover

[{"selector":"#anim-4861759e-dcca-4b1f-9b88-caf5117ad1fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d9fb64f-0a58-47b5-86a0-d8434b7b71f8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 245.59%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f4febe9-e054-4db0-baf9-72c66d530adc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-96f11bdc-bdc6-4113-a9f3-5bd7af710f9d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 455.55573%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] CPR, timely angioplasty, and structured cardiac rehab saved his life. Photo Credit: Freepik

Takeaway

[{"selector":"#anim-da5436ea-8756-4d31-abde-1c3d013f49ba","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d620b13f-497e-4445-a229-1ffc225711f1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 173.43985%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5823b706-624a-43ad-8c13-1f94c5bc1080","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2428d435-937f-4694-b529-9b87bf722e08","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 824.92425%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Fitness isn’t full protection. Annual heart checkups after 25 and CPR training can make the difference between life and loss. Photo Credit: Freepik