Doctors Explain Reasons Behind Superstar Puneeth Rajkumar’s Sudden Death

The sudden demise of Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar on October 29 has sent shockwaves across the country. He was only 46.

He was laid to rest with full state honours near his father and legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar’s burial place. 

The concerning question that has risen among the masses is that how a young fitness enthusiast could pass away at such a young age despite him being so health-conscious. 

Expert Doctors explain some of the theories that led to the actor’s early demise. 

Cardiologist Dr. C N Manjunath, director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research said that nearly 7.5% of all heart patients have a genetic or a family predisposition to cardiac problems. 

In the case of Mr. Rajkumar, two of his brothers and father had artery-related problems which is a strong indicator that genetics had a big role to play in Puneeth’s health condition explained Dr. Jagadish Hiremath( senior cardiac Intensivist and chairman AASRA multispeciality hospital). 

Dr Hiremath said, “It is very clear that Puneeth had genetic issues.”

Dr. K S Ravindranath, a senior cardiologist at Jayadeva, says: “Sudden high-intensity exercises sometimes causes stress in the arteries, which ruptures the plaques, rapidly clogging up a normal artery, resulting in a heart attack.” 

Experts have pointed out that a heart attack followed by ventricular fibrillation in which the heart doesn’t pump enough blood had led to the actor’s death. 

Evidently, the two key factors that played a crucial role in Puneet Rajkumar's unfortunate case are “genetics” and “over-exercising."

On Friday Puneet did his routine workout along with boxing and steam sessions. He felt exhausted after this routine session according to his cardiologist Dr. Ramama Rao. 

In a similar case, Television actor Siddharth Shukla passed away on 2 September 2021 due to cardiac arrest that left the television fraternity in a state of shock. Just like Puneet, Siddharth was also a fitness enthusiast. 

These two cases in particular are wake-up calls for everyone to be cautious when it comes to “over-exercising” especially when you are genetically predisposed to the disease.

The actor’s eyes were donated on Friday afternoon. His father Dr Rajkumar had pledged back in 1994 that all his family members’ eyes will be donated after their deaths.