Heart attacks and cardiac arrests are on the rise among young people in India, with 25% of cases under the age of 40 and not even leaving out people between the ages of 20 and 30. The main culprits are an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle, ignorance and inertia on the part of the patient or family to ignore early symptoms leading to delays in seeking evidence-based management.Also Read – Madhya Pradesh Municipal Election Result: Congress candidate dies of heart attack after losing councilor election
A heart attack occurs when an artery that supplies blood to our heart is completely blocked by a clot on a pre-existing cholesterol plaque, or in some cases by just a blood clot, especially in smokers. Only 25% of patients reach a well-equipped hospital within the golden first hour, with the delay causing irreversible heart damage. Indians are particularly prone to heart attacks due to genetic predisposition, small heart vessels, high bad cholesterol (LDL), low good cholesterol (HDL), early diabetes, obesity, especially central fat mass, high blood pressure and worsened by smoking. . , stress, inactivity and poor food choices with high intake of fat, sugar and salt. Also Read – Shinzo Abe in cardiopulmonary arrest after being shot. Here’s what it means
Heart Attacks in Young People: What You Need to Consider?
Dr. Sanjeev Gera, Director of Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Noida, spoke to India.com about the need for awareness among the youth. He explains that “they should be educated about the importance of regular exercise and a heart-healthy diet to maintain optimal body weight. Symptoms such as central chest discomfort, shortness of breath, sweating, or persistent discomfort should not be ignored and further evaluated by ECG, echocardiogram, or stress testing. We also recommend annual preventive screening with regular home BP and sugar monitoring for those at risk of early heart disease such as family history, high BP, pre-diabetes or diabetes, high cholesterol or obesity. Also Read – Did you know that your sleep cycle can affect your heart health? Check how insufficient sleep can lead to cardiac stroke
Some heart-healthy steps are outlined below:
- A heart-friendly diet that includes complex carbohydrates with 4 to 5 servings of fruits and lightly cooked vegetables and reduced intake of processed and frozen foods.
- Daily exercise and optimal physical activity. Walking 30 minutes a day or 150 minutes a week is proven to be a savior against high BP, diabetes and heart disease.
- Reduce alcohol consumption.
- Avoid tobacco in any form.
- Decreasing stress levels through yoga and other recreational activities like swimming, gardening or music etc.
- Stress is an inevitable part of life, but how you deal with it can make a significant difference.
- Schedule some time for yoga or meditation.
