The entertainment industry is grappling with the sudden and untimely demise of actor and reality TV personality Shefali Jariwala, famously known as the 'Kaanta Laga' girl from the iconic early 2000s music video. Her passing at the age of 42, reportedly due to cardiac arrest, has not only sent shockwaves through her fan base but has also cast a stark spotlight on a critical, often-overlooked health crisis: the rising incidence of sudden cardiac deaths and other silent health battles faced by women, particularly regarding cardiovascular and neurological conditions.

Shefali had openly shared her 15-year struggle with epilepsy, a neurological disorder characterized by unpredictable seizures. Dr. Praveen Gupta, Chairman of Marengo Asia International Institute of Neuro & Spine (MAIINS), emphasized how such unpredictable episodes, as Shefali described experiencing in classrooms or backstage, can significantly erode self-confidence and overall well-being. He highlighted stress and anxiety as common triggers, underscoring the profound psycho-neurological interplay that disrupts daily life and imposes persistent psychological strain. Dr. Gupta stressed the importance of a holistic approach for those living with epilepsy, advocating for comprehensive care strategies including medication, lifestyle modification, stress reduction techniques, and psychological support. Shefali's transparency about her struggles was instrumental in destigmatizing epilepsy, offering a lifeline to millions living with the condition.

While epilepsy was part of her medical history, the reports suggesting cardiac arrest have redirected urgent attention to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women, a pervasive and deadly threat often shrouded in misconceptions. Dr. Ashish Agarwal, Director of Cardiology at Aakash Healthcare, categorically stated that globally and in India, women's cardiac problems are alarmingly on the rise. He revealed that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women, claiming 10 times more lives than breast cancer. Citing the 2020 National Family Health Survey, Dr. Agarwal pointed out that nearly 19% of Indian women aged 15–49 live with untreated hypertension, a silent yet major risk factor that sets the stage for fatal heart events. He underscored that Shefali's passing serves as a potent reminder that even seemingly healthy and active women can be at serious risk, making early screening and proactive management of diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol not optional, but essential.

Adding to this chorus of concern, Dr. Subrat Akhoury, Chairman – Cath Lab & Interventional Cardiologist at Asian Hospital, addressed the critical gender disparity in cardiac care. He explained that heart disease is still predominantly perceived as a “man’s disease,” leading to women's symptoms often being missed or misdiagnosed. Women's heart attack symptoms frequently differ from men's, presenting as fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or shortness of breath, which are easily dismissed as stress, PMS, or general exhaustion. Furthermore, plaque builds up differently in women’s arteries, complicating traditional diagnostic tools. Dr. Akhoury also noted that emotional variables, such as stress, anxiety, and depression, are more common in women and can significantly elevate their heart risk, with this risk spiking dramatically after menopause. Despite these challenges, he emphasized that most heart disease is preventable through a heart-healthy lifestyle, regular check-ups, and being attuned to one's body.

The increase in sudden cardiac arrests among young, seemingly healthy women in their 30s and 40s is attributed to a complex web of factors. Dr. Anupama V. Hegde, Senior Consultant at Ramaiah Institute of Cardiac Sciences, highlighted structural heart diseases, rhythm abnormalities, coronary artery disease, and increasingly taxing lifestyles as major contributors. She stated that sudden cardiac arrest in young women accounts for nearly one-third of all female deaths, linking this trend to unhealthy eating habits, high stress levels, poor sleep, rising diabetes and hypertension rates, and sedentary lifestyles. She also mentioned the observed rise in spontaneous coronary artery dissections—a rare but serious heart event—more frequently in women under 50, often without traditional risk factors.

Beyond lifestyle, genetic predisposition plays a significant, often hidden, role in determining heart disease risk, particularly in women who appear otherwise healthy. Dr. Ramesh Menon, Director of Personal Genomics and Genomic Medicine, advocated for precision medicine, suggesting that genetic testing can assess individual risk long before symptoms manifest, especially for women over 40 whose standard tests might miss early red flags. He explained how hormonal shifts, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, interact with genetics to alter heart risk profiles, compounded by factors like smoking, irregular sleep, and chronic emotional labor.

Culturally, women, especially in India, are often conditioned to prioritize others, normalize fatigue, silence discomfort, and delay their own health check-ups. This emotional labor and self-neglect can have fatal consequences. Shefali Jariwala's story now serves as a poignant cautionary tale and a powerful wake-up call for women everywhere to proactively take their heart health seriously. Doctors across the board offer vital advice: know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, BMI), listen to your body (don't ignore fatigue, breathlessness, unexplained pain), manage stress (mental health is cardiac health), move more, sit less (even 30 minutes of daily walking helps), inquire about family history, consider genetic testing if early deaths run in the family, and crucially, never dismiss symptoms just because one is young or