Dr. M Sai Sudhakar, Chief Interventional Cardiologist, Global Hospitals,
365TELUGU.COM ONLINE NEWS,Hyderabad,september 27th,2021:In recent times, heart-related ailments among young Indians have become a concern for health experts across the country. The issue in question is why there has been a surge in heart attack cases, in relatively younger age groups in India.
Dr. M Sai Sudhakar, Chief Interventional Cardiologist, Global Hospitals, tells us in detail the main reasons behind the rise in heart attack and cardiac arrest cases in the younger generation. He emphasises that mental stress, physical health and other reasons are being linked to the rising cases of heart disorders among young Indians
1.Why are heart attacks and cardiac arrests causing deaths in people who exercise and eat healthy too?
Exercising is not the only thing. Stress is driving more and more people into alcohol and drugs. People exercise, but to release stress they end up with habits like smoking and drug abuse. The hormone changes happening in the body due to these are directly linked to heart disorders.
2. What is the role of stress and mental health when it comes to heart attacks?
Mental health is as equally important as physical health. We are so driven in our lives and jobs in general. Our lifestyle is very stressful. Many people are working long hours, around the clock, without realising that they have not given time to their own physical and mental health. It is the pressure to prove oneself in professional life that is also leading to this high-voltage lifestyle where little time is given to personal health.
3. Is genetic predisposition or family history also a factor?
Asians are more predisposed to having cardiac disorders due to our genes. And, there is nothing we can do about it. One of the reasons is the genetic formation. Hence, young people in our country are facing heart attacks more than our western counterparts.
4. What can people do to prevent these disorders?
Ensure you get regular health check-ups. Avoid smoking to release stress. Avoid drug abuse. Take care of mental health through meditation and yoga. One needs to ‘slow down’ to keep lifestyle habits in check.
5.So why are Indians, particularly young Indians more prone to heart attacks?
HEART ATTACKS IN INDIAN MEN –
SHOCKING STATISTICS!
50% heart attacks < 50 year old
25% heart attacks < 40 year old
According to the Indian Heart Association, when heart disease strikes Indians, it tends to do so at an earlier age (almost 33 per cent earlier) than other demographics, often without prior warning.
Fifty per cent of all heart attacks in Indian men, occur under 50 years of age and 25 per cent of all heart attacks in Indian men occur under 40 years of age. Indian women have high mortality rates from cardiac disease as well.
Indians have a greater genetic predisposition to heart diseases. Studies have found that Indians get heart diseases at least 10 years before people in the West. Indians also have a higher tendency/risk to coronary artery disease. If people get heart disease in their 60s in western countries, Indians get it in their 50s, and now, the age is much lower. Another reason is that Indians have smaller blood vessels (coronary arteries) than people in the West. Add to that, risk factors like premature diabetes, obesity, and accelerated atherosclerosis (deposit of fat in the blood vessels) lead to young people suffering heart attacks.
Mental stress and alcohol are among the biggest risk factors. Some other risk factors include smoking, and family history. Indians also consume a lot of trans fats. Diabetes, hypertension, a sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol and obesity are among the common risk factors across all age groups. Some people however, may not have any risk factor. That is called a sudden cardiac arrest, where the heart can stop due to any reason.
About 15-20 per cent of my patients are below the age of 40. The primary reason that I have observed, is stress. Most of the young patients are corporate, IT employees, who work with US clients. With work from home, their targets have increased, and they work for longer hours. They work during nights, which causes lack of sleep. They don’t have to time to exercise or follow a healthy diet. Lack of sleep causes hormonal imbalance, leading to obesity, which all collectively trigger diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
6.What is the health advice you wish to share with young people on the occasion of World Heart Day?
Do not ignore symptoms like breathlessness, chest pain, excessive sweating and dizziness. Also, one should try to stop smoking and consuming too much alcohol. Have an active lifestyle and avoid fatty foods. It is recommended for even those in their late 20s and 30s to get regular check-ups, if they have a family history of cardiovascular diseases.