Why has heart attack become so prevalent in young people?
Sidharth Shukla's untimely demise left everyone in a state of shock and
grief. As per reports, the late actor, who was only 40 years of age,
suffered a massive heart attack and succumbed to it thereafter.
The unfortunate event has sent shock waves across the film
fraternity and also among devoted fans. While some lament over the
actor's passing, others imply at the unpredictability of life and show
concern over the growing prevalence of heart attack in the younger
population.
Heart attack, cardiac arrest and other
cardiovascular diseases have remained a major health concern around the
world, but it is only recently that a rising number cardiovascular
problems among the younger population are being diagnosed and reported.
While doctors and medical professionals are yet to find conclusive
answers to such occurrences, they have somehow decoded a few factors
that could be leading to it.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack or a myocardial infarction refers to a blockage or a
blood clot being formed within the arteries, which blocks blood flow to
the heart, says Dr. Sudhir Pillai, a Consultant in Cardiology with P.D
Hinduja Hospital, Mahim, Mumbai.
When the blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked due to the
formation of plaques, an outcome of fatty deposits, including
cholesterol, the coronary arteries can narrow down, leading to a heart
attack. That said, most heart attacks can be fatal and therefore, they
need immediate medical care as and when they occur.
What leads to heart attacks in youngsters?
Cardiovascular diseases have existed from time immemorial. It is not
something that has recently been diagnosed or discovered, but has been
wreaking havoc for a long time. However, deviating from its routine
pattern of targeting the older population and those with pre-existing
heart conditions, heart diseases have found a way to affect the younger
population too. This has raised alarms and concerns and made people
question the science behind it.
Although there is no definitive age to experience a heart attack,
the kind of lifestyle choices you make, your diet plans, your workout
routines and how you manage your stress levels can influence your
probabilities.
Key reasons, as per doctors
Dr Vanita Arora, Senior Consultant, Cardiac Electrophysiologist and
Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, says "Young
people these days do not get any prior heart check-ups. People start
gymming without a pre-cardiac check up and then during gym they do
weight training, which increases the thickness of the heart, they do
treadmill workout, cross training. Some even take supplements which are
not good and cause damage to the heart, leading to arrhythmia."
Dr. Pillai explains, "When a person is in their twenties, they
slowly begin to develop negligible blockages because of increased
cholesterol or other genetic factors. However, when the person faces an
acutely stressful event, undergoes a significant physical exertion
without preparation or severe biological stressors such as an infection,
the exertion on the heart causes clots to form near the already present
blockages, leading to clots and even a heart attack."
"While increasing heart diseases has been prevalent and an
observable trend over the last decade, the rise in cases last year is
more concerning," says Dr. Pillai. "Most healthcare professionals
understand this increase to be a direct consequence of Covid-19, since
the disease gravely impacts the patient’s blood vessels," he adds.
Do exercise and healthy eating suffice? Or do genetic factors play a role?
There is no doubt that a healthy lifestyle can curb cardiovascular
diseases and also lower the risk of developing other chronic illnesses
like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and hyperglycemia.
Routine exercise and a proper diet sure play a vital role in keeping
illnesses at bay. However, considering the growing numbers of young
cardiac patients, who are more aware and informed, there is more to it
than what meets the eye.
Dr. Pillai explains that a large section of the Indian population
are also genetically predisposed to these complications, leading to
cardiovascular disease.
"This genetic transmission of cardiovascular disease is most
commonly observed to mainly be transmitted through the father’s side
rather than the mother’s," he says.
Adding to it, he further highlights that this genetic transmission
impacts the younger generation roughly about 5-10 years before it
affected their parents in the previous generation. When the genetic
pattern sets in, there is not much that one can do to prevent
cardiovascular disease completely, but its risk factors can be
mitigated.
Do mental stressors play a role?
Cardiovascular diseases have often been linked to stress and anxiety.
Studies have suggested that high cortisol levels from long-term
stress can make a person more prone to high blood cholesterol,
triglycerides, blood sugar, and increase the risk of hypertension. These
are common risk factors for heart disease, as per experts.
As per Dr. Arora, "Young people have a lot of stress - stress of
performance, stress associated with urbanization, lifestyle - which
often lead to smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating habits and patterns.
This in turn causes stress on the heart, leading to either heart attack,
cardiac arrest or arrhythmia."
Preventive measures
"Prevention is better than cure," says. Dr. Arora.
"The most important thing is to perform a cardiac check-up. In case a
person has a strong family history of cardiac ailments, then one should
visit a cardiologist or a cardiac electrophysiologist if need be."
Dr. Pillai on the other hand recommends "changing one’s sedentary
lifestyle, curbing excess sugar consumption, monitoring lipids,
controlling fat consumption, and stopping smoking and drinking, which
increase the chances of cardiovascular disease."
COVID-19 and heart health
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people suffering with cardiovascular
diseases have had it the worst. From tackling COVID symptoms to managing
post-COVID complications, heart patients have been living in constant
fear of severe infections and sudden deaths.
Dr. Pillai notes that COVID-19 does
not differentiate in terms of age. That said, younger populations who
have issues with their heart are also more susceptible after a bout of
infection, according to him.
"The average heart disease age in
India is now more youthful than ever before, recorded within the age
bracket 40-50. Unfortunately, it is not just heart disease," he says.
He adds by saying, "Across the board,
there have been recorded increases in the prevalence of diabetes,
hypertension, high cholesterol, and hyperglycemia."