Take heart

Studies suggest that 190 people die of heart attacks everyday in the country. Doctors share tips on how to prevent the attack and keep cardiac diseases at bay

Cardiac failure is a condition when the heart is not able to pump sufficient blood to meet the body’s need, resulting in insufficient blood supply to the vital organs and thus leading to the cardiac failure. About one in every 1000 children suffer with cardiac failure which can be a result of the congenital heart defect, enlargement of the heart, cardiac arrhythimas amongst others. Cardiac failures can usually be treated with medicine, surgery or assist device (LVAD) if diagnosed on time.

Childhood is an age where humans are the most active. Cardiac ailments in kids can lead to a restricted life in early childhood. Thus, its crucial to consult a doctor if your kid has the following symptoms.

• Swelling of abdomen, legs, and ankles: Swelling in the lower abdomen.
• Shortness of breath while climbing stairs: Trouble breathing while running, climbing stairs, exercising and doing anything which causes increase workload on heart.
• Quick tiredness and lack of stamina: Bad immune system and lack of energy during any activity which requires a lot of physical hard work.
• Frequent nausea & reduced appetite: Viral infections, dizziness, and chest congestion.
• Excessive sweating: Over sweating even while walking down the road cannot be neglected.
• Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. You should dial the ambulance service of the nearest hospital and start CPR right away.

The writer is Dr Mukesh Goel, Senior Consultant, Cardiology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals

What’s the difference?

The terms sudden cardiac arrest and heart attack are often used interchangeably. A heart attack is when the blood flow to the heart is blocked while a sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart beats too fast or stops beating. To put it simply, a heart attack is a circulation problem and a sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical problem.

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction (MI) which is the damage to a part of the heart muscle due to inadequate blood flow to that particular area. Mostly, this happens due to a blockage in one of the arteries of the heart. A heart attack occurs when oxygen-rich blood is being prevented from reaching a section of the heart by the blocked artery. If the blocked artery is not treatedimmediately, the part of the heart connected to that artery begins to die. Symptoms of heart attack might start occurring weeks before the heart attack.

What is a sudden cardiac arrest?

A cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and mostly without any prior symptoms. It is electrical malfunction in the heart that results in irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). This causes the heart to beat rapidly, mostly leading to cardiac arrest. This disrupts the ability of the heart to pump blood to the lungs,brain, and other vital organs, causing the patient to gasp or stop breathing. The person may lose consciousness and becomes unresponsive within seconds. Cardiac arrests can be fatal if the patient does not receive immediate attention and treatment. 

Even though there is a potential that a heart attack can cause a sudden cardiac arrest, most heart attacks generally do not lead to it. However, there is chance of sudden cardiac arrest after a heart attack, or during the recovery period.

The writer is SK Gupta, Senior Consultant, Cardiology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals

Remedies

• According to Ayurveda, ama is the main cause for heart diseases. Ama is the toxic material that is produced by undigested food. Therefore, one must make sure that one eats only the amount and type of foods one can digest properly.
• Avoid over-eating and eating frequently. Eat a light breakfast and dinner. Lunch should be the main meal. Milk products, fried foods, cold foods and acidic foods should be taken in small quantities. White flour products, and foods that contain chemical preservatives and additives should be avoided. Animal products, especially red meat, are not good as they take a long time to be digested, and create a lot of toxins in the stomach.
• Amla (Indian gooseberry) is very beneficial for the heart. It can be taken fresh, preserved or in powder form.
• A very common cause of heart diseases is mental stress. Regular practice of yoga and pranayama (breathing exercises) reduces stress levels. Also, meditation has been scientifically proven to prevent as well as cure heart diseases.
• A gentle head massage with or without oil several times a week is very beneficial. A full-body self-massage with oil once a week is also good.
• Too much tea, coffee, alcohol and smoking is not good for the heart and should be given up. They weaken the liver and digestive power, and so form ama.
• Drinking water kept overnight in a copper pot strengthens the heart.

The writer is Dr Partap Chauhan, Director, Jiva Ayurveda