According to Shefali Jariwala’s initial postmortem report, police say a sudden drop in blood pressure is suspected to be the cause of her death. While they have ruled out any foul play, the Times of India reported that a full report is awaited.

Police say the 42-year-old Kaanta Laga girl, as she was popularly known, collapsed at her residence on Friday night, after which her husband rushed her to a nearby hospital. But Shefali was declared dead on arrival.

According to doctors, a sudden drop in blood pressure can occur for any reason, which means that vital organs may not be getting enough blood flow. “A sudden and steep drop in blood pressure, known medically as severe hypotension, can become a life-threatening emergency. Although a blood pressure reading below 90/60 mm Hg isn’t always dangerous on its own, a rapid and dramatic decline can trigger serious health risks, including fatal outcomes,” Dr Abhijit Khadtare, cardiologist at Ruby Hall Clinic, told Times Now.

Dr Khadtare said severely low blood pressure results in organ dysfunction due to lack of blood flow. “When blood pressure falls too quickly, it reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to critical organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys. This can result in rapid organ dysfunction and, if not addressed immediately, may lead to a life-threatening condition called shock. Shock occurs when the circulatory system fails to deliver adequate oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues and organs, potentially causing them to shut down.”

A few serious conditions that cause a sudden drop in blood pressure include:

A significant loss of fluids or blood volume can drastically reduce blood pressure.

A severe infection spreading through the bloodstream can cause the blood vessels to dilate abnormally, dropping blood pressure sharply.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can lead to dangerously low blood pressure and breathing difficulties.

Conditions such as heart attacks, heart failure, or irregular heart rhythms – bradycardia or tachycardia – can weaken your heart’s ability to maintain proper circulation.

A hypotensive syndrome happens when there is an underlying health condition that may trigger recurrent symptoms of hypotension with daily activities. Some common hypotensive syndromes include a change in body position, such as rising from a chair or bed, causing a dramatic drop in blood pressure.

Sudden hypotension makes your body deprived of oxygen. However, regardless of the cause, this can cause a few symptoms which are associated with low blood pressure, including: