Shefali Jariwala battled seizures: What is 'Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy' or SUDEP?

Kaanta Laga star Shefali Jariwala has passed away, reportedly from a cardiac arrest, on June 27 in Mumbai. The 42-year-old actress was pronounced dead on arrival at Belleuvu Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai, and her sudden demise has left many shocked. Shefali, who was also part of the Big Boss season 13, has opened up about her efforts and struggles to stay physically and mentally healthy, many times. Years ago, she revealed in an interview with a national media house that from the age of 15, she has battled epilepsy. Apparently, she used to get seizures even while at school, walking on the streets or even during events.

Shefali said that she had a lot of pressure to score good marks at school, and the resulting anxiety and depression probably led to seizures. However, Shefali always maintained that she handles her low periods quite well through yoga, breathing exercises, and regular workouts. She has also said that immense faith in God is another aspect that helped her going through tough times. 

Seizures and cardiac arrest: Is there a connection?
At the moment, doctors or police haven't quoted an official reason for Shefali's death, yet. However, many are discussing on social media a possible connection between her epilepsy and cardiac arrest. The Cleveland Clinic quotes a condition named SUDEP, or Sudden, Unexplained Death in Epilepsy, a life-threatening yet rare condition connected with epilepsy, which results in death due to an unclear cause. In patients who suffer from it, death happens during sleep or at night and experts quote 'irregular heart rhythm,' as one of the causes for it.

According to the Centres for Disease Control, a seizure can also cause a dangerous heart rhythm or a very slow heart rate, which results in SUDEP. Breathing difficulties, vomit inhalation, and brain function interference are a few other reasons for SUDEP. Apparently, every year, one in 1,000 people dies from SUDEP. The various ways to avoid its risk include taking medication on time, preventing seizure triggers, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

While many reports state that Shefali was hospitalised following a cardiac arrest, the exact reason for her passing is not ascertained yet by the authorities. Her untimely death has prompted a tremendous outpouring of grief on social media and a lot of searches online, as people seek to learn more about her life. According to Google Trends, 'Shefali Jariwala' has more than 500K searches in the past 9 hours.