Heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic conditions have become a common condition, and now it’s not just something you might get after age 45 or 50.
The deterioration of health is becoming a growing concern among young people around the world. Heart problems, high blood pressure and diabetes used to be problems for “older” people or just health problems for a post health 45-50 year old. But today, adults as young as 18 develop such conditions. There seems to be a trend in society in general. Early appearance of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and sometimes even heart attack. Speaking to india.com, Dr Kedar Kulkarni, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Ruby Hall Clinic, said: “Twenty years ago when I was in medical school, the normal age of presentation for a heart attack was 55 to 60. years in men and from 60 to 65 years. in females. When I started practicing during the initial phase in 2010, I would see an occasional case in the 40-45 age group. And since 2020 I have seen how the age is reduced to 30 or 35 years when people have hypertension, diabetes and heart attack.
How much of this is caused by the coronavirus, or ‘working from home’ and why it is necessary to decipher the immobility that comes with it, the increasing obesity.
Hypertension:
It is related to the amount of salt we eat. Sodium enters our bodies from a variety of sources, from regular table salt to preservatives in ready-to-eat foods. It seems that our consumption of prepared meals has increased. To add to this, our intake of pickles, pappad and taking extra salt in curd rice are some of the examples and we have to reduce it consciously.
Mellitus diabetes:
It is related to hypertension, along with sodium there is a greater amount of sugar that goes in. In cold drinks, milk additives for children and postmenopausal women, a large intake of sugar is observed.
Obesity:
With the previous two there is a higher intake of calories and sodium, and a decrease in production due to a sedentary lifestyle.
This leads to a disorder known as metabolic syndrome, and people who have all three: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity are at increased risk of developing coronary artery disease. Stress is a big part of this. It’s hard to quantify its role, but it definitely plays a part.
Cholesterol is deposited in the inner layer of blood vessels as a result of all of the above. Over time, it gradually impinges on the inner diameter of the vessel. Sometimes it becomes so critical that the person has symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath due to this narrowing. Sometimes the inner layer of the blood vessel becomes so thin that it ruptures, causing blood to come into contact with cholesterol. The blood “thinks” it is exposed to air and thus blood clotting occurs. This clot causes the sudden and complete cessation of the blood supply. This leads to a heart attack.
Lifestyle changes to make
Dr. Kulkarni further said: “In my practice, I have seen an 18-year-old young man with hypertension, obesity and a heart attack. And 35 years is the new 45!” Therefore, he shared some lifestyle adjustments that are necessary to avoid and prevent the chances of early onset of such chronic health conditions in young people:
- Restrict the intake of salt, sugar, fats.
- Increase protein intake, complex carbohydrates
- No bad habits – tobacco in any form and alcohol.
- Good nights sleep.
- Regular aerobic exercise – suryanamaskar are the best.
- Limit the use of social networks: it is an additional source of stress.
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