Misfortune does not come knocking, and the recent deaths of several young individuals to heart attacks have been a rude wake-up call. It can affect people from any strata of society. We often hear people say, think from the heart. But do we take adequate care of the most crucial organ in the human body? The rate of heart attacks in India has gone up considerably; it is no longer an issue for the elderly. Recent statistics shows a disturbing trend: heart attacks among people below 40 are on the rise. In Eastern India, 20-30% of patients who have heart attack are under 40 years of age.
In the recent past, we have ever seen various celebrities suffering heart attacks. What is even more disturbing is the fact that heart attacks are not limited to men; even young women are succumbing in numbers that were never seen before. Earlier, it was noted that women develop heart diseases at quite an older age because of the protective effects of estrogen. However, according to research by the American Heart Association, in the last decade, there has been a 20% increase in heart attacks among women under 55. Awareness of these tendencies and preventive measures against them is important for heart health protection.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
More research and studies are needed to fully understand the direct correlation between COVID-19 and the increase in cardiac arrest cases. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that there has been a rise in the number of young heart patients following the pandemic. Among them, what can be indicated is how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our daily life. Reduction of active movement leads to being overweight and the general deterioration of the heart’s health. Adding to this, was the aspect of financial challenges and psychological stress during the pandemic that saw people adopt unhealthy lifestyles, including poor diets, increased smoking, and excessive drinking, resulting in higher probability of a heart attack.
Diet and lifestyle choices
Diet is of utmost importance in maintaining cardiac health. The consumption of fast food, processed food, and sweetened beverages has increased dramatically and significantly in India, leading to growing obesity, higher cholesterol levels, and hypertension. According to the 2024 Global Food Policy Report, 38% of Indians consume junk and processed foods instead of healthy home-cooked meals. While dietary patterns worsen, so does the incidence of heart disease; hence, there is a need for developing healthy eating habits.
A young professional aged just 32, a resident of Kolkata, recently had a heart attack, which he could not survive. He was fit and exercised daily. So how could this happen? He ignored his trainer’s advice and failed to balance his workout regimen with adequate rest. While regular exercise is essential for heart health, excessive or improper exercise can be detrimental, which we seldom see among fitness freaks. Lifting weights that are disproportionate to one’s physique can put unnecessary strain on the heart and may cause sudden cardiac arrest.
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and mental health
The issue of mental health has become a popular discourse. However, in practice, it remains unaddressed. Prolonged stress, anxiety, and depression do not exactly make the heart healthy and more so lead to an unhealthy habit of eating, smoking or drinking. Consumption of tobacco, smoking raises blood pressure and pulse rates whereas, alcohol at high levels reduces the strength of heart muscles and hence exacerbates the effects of cardiovascular ailments. It is imperative that preventive measures must be taken towards something as serious as mental health to lower the adverse effects of heart ailments. There is a growing need for more focus on work-life balance and the enhancement of awareness in an organization.
Genetic factors and early detection
Congenital factors like Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) are most significant in contributing to the occurrence of heart diseases. This genetic disorder develops with thickening of the wall of the heart’s ventricles and might be a cause of irregular heartbeat and thus, poses a high risk of sudden cardiac arrest, especially after exercising. Like many other chronic diseases, HCM is not easily diagnosed in its early stages and its presence is usually felt only when complications occur. That is why, due to the increased chance of a heart attack at a young age, it is now advised to go through annual examinations starting from 30 years old to address the problem at an early stage if necessary.
Symptoms of a heart attack:
With the rise of cardiac arrest, we need to be aware of the symptoms as well. If someone is experiencing rapid heartbeat, temporary increase in heart rate, irregular heartbeat, uneasiness in left arm, neck, jaw, and back, feeling lightheadedness, dizziness or vertigo upon rising, congestion/pain in the chest, shortness of breath, profuse sweating, numbness of the extremities, bluish/cyanosed lips, swelling in ankles/legs, sudden weakness/fatigue, nausea, vomiting, they need to consult a doctor immediately. Remember not to self-medicate with over-the–counter drugs, as you might be calling for more danger rather than addressing the issue.
Prevention strategies
As the old adage goes, prevention is always better than cure, preventing heart attacks involves focusing on lifestyle changes and regular health monitoring. Adopting a heart-healthy diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while avoiding excessive processed food, sugary drinks, and transfats can be helpful. At least 150 minutes of moderate exercise and strength training each week is recommended. Quitting smoking and moderating alcohol consumption, along with managing stress through mindfulness, meditation, and seeking professional mental health support, can drastically lower the chance of a heart attack.
For instance, in a case of heart attack, the action required will be calling for an emergency or seeking medical attention as soon as possible. Patients with this condition are usually prescribed drugs that help break down clots, decrease the workload on the heart, and address factors that lead to such complications, including high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Emergency stenting (angioplasty) is the best and most advanced treatment of heart attack. Multiple blocks may require bypass surgery at time. Other measures are part of the recovery process that involve change and entails prevention measures consistently early after treatment. Formal cardiac rehabilitation can be delivered during the recovery process, which incorporates exercise training, education and psychological support for people with heart diseases.
