When Fitness Isn’t Enough: How Quick Action and Expert Care at Medanta–Moolchand Saved a Life

Aug 20, 2025

On July 9, 2025, in Delhi, a 40‑year‑old man who lived by every health rule—clean diet, regular workouts, no smoking, no alcohol—found himself fighting for his life within minutes. Mr. Mohit Sachdeva, a resident of Lajpat Nagar, was a fitness enthusiast for over two decades. Yet, in a matter of seconds, everything changed when he collapsed during his morning leg-press routine at the gym.

This incident reminds us that healthy living, while vital, doesn’t always protect against hidden cardiovascular risks. At the Medanta–Moolchand Heart Centre, Mohit’s ordeal became a beacon of awareness, timely action, and expert medical care.

The Collapse: Eight Minutes That Changed Everything

It was an ordinary morning. As Mohit attempted a 180-kg leg press, he suddenly collapsed. For bystanders, the sight was jarring—a fit, lean man in his prime. What they couldn’t see was the silent danger within his arteries.

In those critical minutes, Mohit’s life hung in the balance. Fortunately, one of his gym partners—trained in CPR—started immediately. Eight uninterrupted minutes of CPR maintained oxygenation to his brain and were lifesaving. Delay would have been fatal. Lesson #1: CPR saves lives. Everyday people—trainers, friends, family—can make all the difference.

Emergency Response at Medanta–Moolchand

When Mohit arrived at the Heart Centre, he had no pulse. Yet, our emergency team was ready:

• Advanced CPR continued without interruption.

• A defibrillator shock was delivered.

• Within minutes, his heartbeat returned.

As Dr. Abbas Ali Khatai, the ER consultant, emphasized: “Every minute after sudden cardiac arrest is critical because the brain starts dying without oxygenated blood flow, and organs shut down one by one.” The Indian Express+10The Indian Express+10The Indian Express+10The Indian Express

The Hidden Danger: Blocked Arteries Despite Fitness

Once stabilized, Mohit underwent diagnostic tests. The results shocked everyone:

• Three coronary arteries were severely blocked.

• Two were completely occluded.

• The third had a fresh clot that triggered the arrest.

Despite his outward fitness, Mohit harbored a silent threat. Interventional cardiologist Dr. Tarun Kumar performed an angioplasty with stenting on the most critical blockage and scheduled staged interventions for the others to minimize strain on his compromised heart and kidneys. The Indian Express+1

Swift Recovery and Renewed Hope

The turnaround was remarkable:

• Within 24 hours, he was off the ventilator.

• His blood pressure medications were stabilized.

• By the third day, he was discharged with a second chance at life—continuing a guided post‑discharge cardiac rehabilitation protocol. The Indian Express+7The Indian Express+7The Indian Express+7The Indian Express+3The Indian Express+3The Indian Express+3

Warning Signs He Ignored

Retrospectively, doctors learned that Mohit had experienced a dull ache in his left arm during workouts for nearly two years—dismissed as muscle strain. However, this was angina, a classic sign of coronary blockage. He had even experienced pain during a trek to Vaishno Devi and assumed it was muscle-related. He also had undiagnosed hypertension and borderline high cholesterol. The Indian Express+1

Lesson #2: Never ignore subtle warning signs—left arm or jaw pain, chest discomfort, breathlessness, unusual fatigue must always be evaluated.

Lessons for Everyone

• Fitness ≠ Immunity
  Healthy living reduces risk—but doesn’t eliminate genetic or silent threats.

• Annual Cardiac Screening Is Crucial
  Dr. Tarun Kumar advises those above 25—especially fitness enthusiasts—to undergo:

  • ECG

  • Stress test (TMT)

  • Lipid profile

  • Advanced imaging when needed The Indian Express+1The Indian Express+4The Indian Express+4The Indian Express+4The Indian Express

• CPR Training Saves Lives
  Widespread CPR knowledge could transform survival rates.

• Don’t Dismiss Symptoms
  Even mild or intermittent symptoms may signal serious disease.

• The Chain of Survival Matters
  From CPR at the gym, defibrillation, angioplasty, ICU stabilization, to rehabilitation—every link saved Mohit’s life.

The Role of Medanta–Moolchand Heart Centre

At Moolchand, cardiac care is built on five pillars:

1. Exceptional physicians – experts in cardiology with decades of experience.

2. Modern technology – advanced cath labs, imaging, and lifesaving systems.

3. Compassionate care – staff who treat patients like family.

4. Integrity – always doing what’s right for patients.

5. Affordability – world-class care without compromise.

Mohit’s recovery exemplifies this: it was not luck, but teamwork, expertise, and compassion that saved him.

Moving Forward: A Call to Action

Mohit’s journey delivers four powerful messages:

• Learn CPR—it could save someone you love.

• Don’t assume fitness is enough—get screened regularly.

• Listen to your body—subtle symptoms matter.

• Act early—prevention trumps emergency care.

At Medanta–Moolchand, our mission extends beyond treatment—to empower healthier, longer, safer lives.

Conclusion

The story of a 40-year-old collapsing at the gym and walking out within three days is both sobering and inspiring. It underscores the unpredictability of heart disease—and the lifesaving power of quick action and expert care.

For Mohit, the chain of survival—immediate CPR, hospital resuscitation, angioplasty—meant life.

For all of us, this is a wake-up call: take heart health seriously, get screened, learn CPR, and never ignore symptoms.

At the Medanta–Moolchand Heart Centre, we stand by this promise:

“If we wouldn’t do it for our family, we wouldn’t recommend it to you.”

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Moolchand Launches Fast Track Consultation – Because Your Time Matters

Aug 19, 2025

At Moolchand, we understand that in today’s fast-paced world, time is one of the most valuable resources. Patients often face long waiting periods before they can see a doctor, which can add unnecessary stress and delay treatment. To address this challenge, we are proud to introduce Moolchand Fast Track Consultation – a service designed to ensure you see a doctor sooner, with same-day or next-available appointments and minimal waiting.

Putting Patients First

For over 100 years, Moolchand has been trusted for its patient-first approach, combining innovation with compassionate care. The launch of Fast Track Consultation continues this tradition of doing what’s right for patients. With this service, we aim to reduce waiting times and provide faster access to expert medical care, whether for routine consultations or urgent health concerns.

The Fast Track Consultation is now available for OPD visits only, making it convenient for patients across different age groups and health needs.

Key Features of Fast Track Consultation

• Same-Day or Next-Available Appointments: No more waiting weeks to see a specialist. Our system prioritizes patients so they can consult a doctor at the earliest possible slot.
• Minimal Waiting: Dedicated scheduling and streamlined processes ensure reduced waiting time at the hospital.
• Patient-Centric Approach: The service has been designed keeping in mind the busy schedules and urgent medical needs of patients.

Why It Matters

In healthcare, timely consultation can make a huge difference. Early diagnosis often leads to better outcomes, and delayed medical attention can worsen health conditions. Moolchand’s Fast Track Consultation ensures that patients do not lose precious time, especially in cases where quick evaluation and treatment are critical.

Moreover, with growing professional and family commitments, many patients find it difficult to wait long hours for an appointment. This initiative helps reduce that burden, offering care that is not just clinically excellent but also considerate of patients’ time and convenience.

Technology-Enabled Convenience

Fast Track Consultation at Moolchand is supported by dedicated OPD reception systems. Patients are registered quickly, and appointments are allocated at the earliest available time slot. This ensures transparency, faster check-ins, and real-time scheduling to minimize waiting.

Continuing the Promise of “Affordable Excellence”

Moolchand has always been committed to delivering affordable excellence in healthcare. While the Fast Track Consultation offers premium convenience, it is designed to remain accessible and cost-effective. Our goal is to make advanced, patient-friendly healthcare available to all, without compromising on quality or affordability.

A Step Towards the Future of Healthcare

Healthcare delivery is evolving rapidly, and patient experience is at the heart of this transformation. Moolchand is proud to lead this change in India with initiatives such as Fast Track Consultation, advanced robotic surgery, digital patient records, and WhatsApp-based appointment booking.

By combining superb physicians, cutting-edge technology, compassionate care, integrity, and affordable prices, Moolchand continues to set benchmarks in patient-centric innovation.

How to Book Your Fast Track Consultation

Booking is simple:

• Visit the OPD Reception at Moolchand Hospital.
• Request a Fast Track Booking at the helpdesk.
• Choose your preferred doctor and time slot.
• Get registered and receive your appointment instantly.

At Moolchand, your health and your time are both precious. With Fast Track Consultation, you no longer have to wait. See a doctor sooner, feel better faster.

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Moolchand introduces Endoscopic Ultrasound

Jan 16, 2018

As part of our relentless focus on innovation, Moolchand is proud to be one of the few centres in India to introduce yet another leading technology: endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for our Moolchand Gastroenterology and Hepatology Institute.

Overview

The procedure involves passing an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a very small ultrasound camera on its tip) into the digestive tract. The ultrasound probe produces sound waves that create detailed pictures of the pancreas, stomach, small intestine and surrounding tissues that are then interpreted in real time by your gastroenterologist.

EUS helps gastroenterologist get in very close proximity to the organ, providing a much wider view with very detailed images that cannot be seen with a CT or MRI scan. Because the EUS scope has a video camera on it, endoscopic evaluations provide a digitally superior image of the area of concern.

In conventional endoscopy, the gastroenterologist can only view the innermost lining of the digestive tract, or the wall. The addition of ultrasound allows the physician to see beyond that wall to visualize all five layers of the digestive tract as well as surrounding tissue and organs.

It is considered an important diagnostic and therapeutic method in the field of oncology. When combined with fine-needle aspiration, EUS allows for sampling (biopsy) fluid and tissue from your abdomen or chest for analysis.

Benefit to Moolchand patients

We are committed to bringing cutting edge technology to improve our patients’ experience and health outcomes. Some of the key benefits of Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) are captured below:

1. Safer than a CT scan. Given lesser radiation exposure.
   
2. Painless. Given no incisions, avoids damage to internal organs.
   
3. Better detection. EUS is considered the gold standard for cancer staging and abnormality detection.
   
4. Easier and superior problem identification. High definition images help in better evaluation and treatment plans.
   
5. Accurate modality for local/regional staging. Accurate cancer diagnosis and staging is necessary to select the best treatment and evaluate prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors.
   
6. Reduced need for unnecessary surgeries. Useful in tumor and nodal assessment in pre-surgical evaluation. 
   
7. Financial savings. Lesser unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Lower morbidity and mortality.
   

Given this, you can always count on Moolchand to “do what’s right for you”.

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