Heart attack rates are increasing among adults in their 20s and 30s. This ia a worrying trend in India. Experts recommend extensive cardiac screening at high schools and colleges as an effective preventive measure.
Changing lifestyle, food habits, high stress in urban areas, binge drinking and use of narcotics have increased the risk factors among youth and now experts are not surprised to see a teenage or 25-year-old becoming a victim of a heart attack.
Number of young Indians is suffering from this life-threatening disease and the reason behind this is a sedentary lifestyle. If this continues the future looks even more dangerous. These days we are not surprised while handling patients between age groups of 25-35 with heart attack cases and emergency. It is a worrying trend and there is an urgent need to educate the younger generation about preventive measures.
According to the ICMR State Level Disease Burden Report, among all age groups, the prevalence of heart disease has increased by over 50 per cent from 1990 to 2016 in India, with an increase observed in every state . Heart disease contributed 17.8 per cent of total deaths.
The most common heart issues, ailing at the young generation, is coronary artery disease. Another severe condition is characterised by enlarged cardiac muscle cells which are abnormal and associated with further problems, including heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, and an increased risk of angina and heart attack. Genetic mutation of the genes causes another rare heart muscle disease called left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).
The biggest cause of heart diseases in young people is willful ignorance towards a proper healthy lifestyle, which thereby increases the risks of uninvited heart attacks. The risk factors for a heart attack include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, use of substances (narcotics), Diabetes, poor diet, obesity, inactive lifestyle and excessive drinking.
Youngsters have a tendency to undermine the risk factors. Sometimes ignoring routine checkup leads to the younger suddenly succumbing to the disease. Despite this, vast majority of youngsters and adults fail to identify the warning signs -Chest pain, breathiness, undue fatigue, acidity and lack of stamina, chest pressure, shortness-of-breath, cold sweats individually, asthma or even the side effects of an emotional outburst. And this can lead to tragic outcomes.
As a preventive measure, we are also calling for wider cardiac screening high schools and colleges. Even sportspersons should be included in the screening. Screening of cardiac condition among youth should include a review of risk factors, blood pressure, heart-related symptoms, family history, and other stress-related issues.
A study conducted at a Government-run heart institute on 2,000 heart attack cases in the last two years revealed that 40 per cent of them did not have any conventional risk factors. Hence cardiac screening among teenagers and youth and regular check-up by all age group can prevent and reduce heart attacks.
The Writer is Dr RN Kalra Cardiologist, Medical Director & CEO Kalra Hospital, SRCNC