Combating the Silent Epidemic: Heart attacks

The journey to revolutionize cardiac care began in a small village in northern India. Lack of diagnostics and healthcare facilities in the region meant that deaths that were most likely due to undiagnosed heart diseases were forced to be considered as ‘normal’. Sunfox Technologies and our flagship product, Spandan were created to fill this unmet gap in our health system. Our mission is to change the landscape of cardiac healthcare in India by promoting early identification of a heart attack thus facilitating prompt treatment.?

The Global Challenge of Heart Disease

Globally, the impact of heart disease is staggering. The World Health Organization reports that CVDs are the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. These deaths predominantly occur in low and middle-income countries, where access to healthcare is often limited.

The Indian Context: A Disturbing Reality

In India, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death and are escalating at an alarming rate, accounting for 28% of all deaths. Heart diseases have seen a significant rise in both rural and urban areas. In rural and semi-urban areas with insufficient infrastructure and awareness, heart attacks are often clinically misdiagnosed as ‘acidity’ which delays treatment and worsens the disease outcome often resulting either in death or long-term complications.

The Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Heart Attacks

Heart attacks, commonly perceived as immediate life-threatening events, have far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond the acute episode. The aftermath of an undiagnosed or delayed-treated heart attack can lead to lasting damage affecting individuals' lives for years.

1. Heart Failure: A common consequence of untreated heart attacks is heart failure, characterized by the heart's inability to pump blood efficiently.

2. Arrhythmias: Damaged heart tissue can cause irregular heartbeats, posing significant health risks and requiring ongoing treatment.

3. Angina: Survivors of heart attacks face an increased risk of developing angina, a condition marked by chest pain due to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.

4. Emotional Impact: The psychological effects of experiencing a heart attack, particularly when undiagnosed, are profound, often leading to conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

The Golden Hour: A Missed Opportunity

In many regions, including India, accessing a healthcare facility within the critical 'golden hour' following a heart attack is challenging. This delay often results in irreversible damage to the heart muscle, leading to long-term disability or death.

Spandan: A Technological Breakthrough

Addressing these challenges, Spandan stands as a beacon of hope. This innovative palm-sized ECG device, compatible with smartphones and requiring no external power source, enables even non-medical individuals to perform the test and interpret the result effectively.

Beyond Saving Lives: Reducing Disability

Spandan's role extends beyond saving lives. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment prevents long term complications and therefore helps the person in leading a disability free life. It plays a crucial part in reducing the Disability Averted Life Years (DALYs) associated with heart diseases. Timely diagnosis and treatment not only save lives but also prevent disabilities arising from delayed cardiac care.

Democratizing Cardiac Care

Our vision for Spandan is to make cardiac monitoring as common as a thermometer, breaking down barriers in accessibility and affordability. With heart disease becoming the commonest disease,we aim to transform cardiac care from a privilege of the few into a right for all.

A Call to Action

The long-term damage caused by undiagnosed heart attacks underscores the need for increased awareness, timely diagnosis, and swift treatment. As a society, we must prioritize heart health and ensure that the necessary tools and knowledge are accessible to all. Join us at Sunfox Technologies in our mission to make a tangible difference in heart health worldwide.

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Special Editing Credits- Parth Sharma