Shefali Jariwala’s tragic passing at just the age of 42, on June 27, 2025 reportedly due to sudden cardiac arrest possibly triggered by a severe drop in blood pressure; fasting, and unsupervised anti- ageing treatments. While the official cause of her death is yet to be confirmed pending post-mortem and forensic tests. The early reports point to a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCD); an issue that is quietly becoming more common among the healthy, middle-aged person.
Sudden cardiac death used to be seen as something that mostly happened to older people, but now it’s becoming more common in younger adults too. In India, this has become a growing concern. Many people who seem healthy and are in their 30s or 40s are suddenly losing their lives to unexpected heart problems.
Senior Cardiologist Dr. Ajit Menon, Director of Cardiac Sciences at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, sheds light on the growing cardiac risks among women—particularly younger adults.
"Women today are increasingly vulnerable to heart attacks, primarily due to significant shifts in lifestyle. Factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, irregular sleep patterns, prolonged stress, and sedentary habits are contributing to an alarming rise in cardiac risk. Post-menopausal women also face a heart disease risk comparable to men of the same age with similar risk profiles," he explained.
Dr. Menon emphasized that family history remains a crucial determinant:
“If a parent—especially the mother—has had a cardiac event before the age of 60 (or 55 in the case of men), the risk is significantly higher, regardless of gender.”
He also pointed out the early onset of risk in today's youth:
“We need to focus on heart health not just after the age of 30 or 35, but right from childhood. Reduced physical activity, increased screen time, and poor dietary habits are fueling childhood obesity and metabolic syndrome—early precursors to adult heart disease. With India already being the diabetes capital of the world, this trend is deeply concerning.”
Commenting on medical interventions and current weight loss trends, Dr. Menon cautioned against the unsupervised use of GLP-1 agonists (like Ozempic and Wegovy):
“While these drugs can be helpful for certain patients, they must be prescribed judiciously. There was a recent retrospective UK study published in the BMJ, raising red flags about potential deaths linked to these medications. These are not one-size-fits-all solutions and must be used with careful clinical judgment.”
He added that even PCOS medications may influence cardiac health, making medical supervision essential for women undergoing hormone-related treatments.
Key Factors Behind Cardiac Arrest
· Taking strong medications incorrectly without food or proper guidance, can cause sudden drops in blood pressure or dangerous heart rhythms.
· Prolonged fasting or crash diets can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, increasing the risk of sudden heart problems.
· Hidden issues like high cholesterol, hypertension, or genetic rhythm disorders often go unnoticed and can cause sudden collapse.
· Hormonals therapies like steroids or anti-aging injections can stimulates body controls blood pressure and heart rate, sometimes leading to arrhythmias.
· High stress, lack of sleep, smoking, and poor eating habits increase heart disease risk and can contribute to sudden cardiac arrest.
Signs and Symptoms
· Sudden fainting or collapse is a major warning sign, happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood.
· The person will have no detectable pulse and may stop breathing or gasp irregularly.
· Before cardiac arrest, some people may feel pressure, squeezing, or a chest pain; sign of an underlying heart issue.
· Unusually fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeats can cause heart’s electrical system unstable.
· Sometimes cardiac arrest can look like a seizure because the brain is suddenly starved of oxygen.
Shefali Jariwala was an Indian actress and dancer who rose to fame in the early 2000s. Beyond her iconic music video, she worked in films and reality TV, earning love for her vibrant personality and candid openness about her health journey, including living with epilepsy. Her untimely passing sparked a larger conversation about sudden cardiac arrest and the hidden health risks many people overlook.