Rachel Furtado, a 46-year-old triathlete, died after suffering a sudden illness at Parque da Cidade in Brasília. The athlete began showing symptoms after a running training session. She was rescued and resuscitated at the scene before being taken to Hospital Regional da Asa Norte (Hran), where she died after suffering additional cardiorespiratory arrests. The specific cause of the sudden illness was not disclosed.
The article clarifies that "sudden illness" is not a correct medical term, designating what is actually called "sudden death." The condition manifests through symptoms such as syncope (fainting) and/or lipothymia (pre-fainting), actually representing a sudden drop in blood pressure followed by cardiac arrest.
According to experts consulted by the publication, the risk of sudden illness doubles when it comes to women. The Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC) indicates that mortality from heart attacks in the age group between 18 and 55 is on the rise.
