You might have seen the incidents of heart attacks rising in India among young people, probably in their 30s and 40s. Every day, a new video comes out where we see young people, even in their 20s, dying of a heart attack. But why are young adults dying of heart attacks in India, especially after the outbreak of COVID-19? What is the reason behind this? Most people blame the vaccine for this, while others attribute it to a poor lifestyle.
Dr. (Prof.) Digvijay Sharma, a renowned vascular surgeon in Faridabad, explains the reason for the sudden increase in heart attacks. He attributes diabetes, air pollution, genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, stress, heavy workouts, and steroids as the common factors contributing to increasing cases of heart attacks in young people.
Why Young Indians Are Dying of Heart Attacks
Here are the most common reasons why heart attacks are rising in India among young people:
Physical Inactivity
Physical activity improves your cardiovascular system, which prevents heart disease. But today, youngsters have a sedentary lifestyle in their corporate world where they sit for long hours. This leads to chronic diseases. If you don’t do regular exercise or are completely inactive in your daily life, you will pave the path for conditions like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. This weakens your cardiovascular system, which leads to a heart attack.
Unhealthy Diet
People who consume an unhealthy diet are at high risk of a heart attack. Often, people go for easily accessible junk foods and avoid the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Fried and frozen foods increase the cholesterol levels, which leads to diabetes and obesity, which are the predominant causes of more than 80% of cases of heart attacks in India.
Tobacco Use
Chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes is one of the major risk factors for heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. Tobacco affects every part of your body and organs. It can damage your lungs, eyes, blood vessels, digestive organs, and reproductive organs, including causing heart disease. When you inhale these chemicals, they damage your blood vessels and build plaque in the arteries. This leads to a heart attack. Hence, people must avoid smoking and chewing tobacco.
Excessive Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol consumption in youths carries significant health risks. Young people have started engaging in binge drinking, which affects their organs. Excessive alcohol consumption is not good for your mental or physical health. It is linked with high blood pressure and heart-related issues. Educate yourself on the consequences of binge drinking to curb the risk.
Genetic Predisposition
One of the most common reasons for cardiovascular diseases and heart attacks lies in hereditary factors. If your family has a history of heart attacks or cardiovascular diseases, it significantly increases your susceptibility. Genetic factors play a crucial role. People with genetic predisposition should be vigilant about their health.
Obesity
There is no denying that obesity is rising in India, and due to this the heart diseases and other problems in people are also increasing. Obese people need more blood to supply nutrients and oxygen to their bodies, which increases blood pressure, which contributes to heart attacks and heart diseases. High-calorie and low-nutrient diets and sedentary lifestyles are causing obesity. All these things collectively cause heart attacks in youth in India.
Stressful Lifestyle
Modern life has started causing stress to people. A stressful lifestyle can arise from various reasons like work pressure, toxic relationships, financial problems, and major life events. This leads to negative impacts on our physical and mental health. A stressful lifestyle also affects your eating and drinking habits. People with unhealthy coping mechanisms start overeating or binge drinking, which leads to cardiovascular diseases and increases the risk of heart attack.
Dr. (Professor) Digvijay attributes these factors to a sudden rise in heart attacks among young people in India. He even says that you don’t get a heart attack all of a sudden, but your body shows a few symptoms that you must pay attention to. However, some of these could be silent signs that are often overlooked by the patient.
Silent Signs of Heart Attacks People Must Not Ignore
Usually, heart problems take years to develop. However, in the worst cases, it can cause a silent heart attack. A silent heart attack is just as fatal as any other. Silent heart attacks are often unnoticed by people, which causes significant damage to your heart. We have mentioned the most common signs of a silent heart attack, which you must not ignore. Detecting the signs at the right time can help you get the right treatment.
Chest Pain
You will feel mild or non-existent chest pain during a silent heart attack. You may not realize it’s a sign of a heart attack, but you should be concerned for the reasons of the chest pain. Immediately consult a doctor and find out the reason for the ache. The pain feels so minimal that you may ignore it. But you must look for the signs of feeling tightness or heaviness in the chest, being uncomfortable, or it is if something is squeezing your chest.
Nausea
People think that feeling nauseated or vomiting is associated with the flu or digestive issues, but sometimes, it can be a sign of a silent heart attack. If there are no gastric or digestive reasons for vomiting or nausea, then it could be a sign of a silent heart attack that you must pay attention to.
Shortness of Breath
If you feel like you have run a marathon when you have actually climbed up a flight of stairs, this could be an alarming sign of a silent heart attack. You may or may not feel chest pain during the time, but you will not be able to breathe properly. This happens when your heart is unable to pump blood to the rest of the body, which may lead to a silent heart attack. Sometimes, you may feel dizzy or lightheaded. You may even faint. This could happen to both men and women. But women often experience shortness of breath.
Cold Sweat
Waking up with cold sweats could be the sign of a silent heart attack, especially if you are experiencing this without doing any physical effort. People often consider this a result of the temperature variations. But you must pay attention to the reasons why you are experiencing cold sweats.
Who are at High Risk of Heart Attacks?
Men over 45 and women past menopause, and people who are alcoholics and chain smokers are at the highest risk of heart disease. Besides, obese people who are 20 pounds more than overweight and people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol are at high risk of heart disease or heart attack.
But the best part is that there are ways that reduce your risk of heart disease. Heart diseases take years to develop. If you make positive changes in your lifestyle and food habits, you can prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Things You Can Do to Prevent Heart Diseases or Heart Attacks
Since you are aware of the increasing cases of heart attacks in India, you must be looking for ways to prevent heart attacks. We have curated healthy tips that are beyond reducing the risk of heart attack.
- Quit smoking: If you quit smoking or tobacco consumption, you make the most important change to reduce the chances of a heart attack. You may find it difficult initially, but you can take your health advisor’s aid to quit smoking as they run many programs and provide medications that ease the process.
- Maintain your diet: Try to maintain your diet to eat less saturated fats. Replace animal fats in your meal with vegetable fats, which will help you shed some kilos. Losing weight keeps you fit and, arteries healthy and also lowers the risk of heart disease.
- Stay active: Regular exercise keeps you healthy and fit. You will even lose weight with daily exercise. Just aim for 30 minutes of daily exercise or yoga to keep yourself active. Aerobic exercise is beneficial, and even a brisk walk can work.
- Get your blood pressure checked: Managing your blood pressure is crucial to preventing heart disease. This can be done by keeping your weight in the normal range. Do regular exercises and change your diet to lose weight to bring your blood pressure level to normal.
- Know your cholesterol level: Check your cholesterol level. If your LDL is high or your HDL is low, you will be at risk of heart disease. You should change your diet and do regular exercise to balance your cholesterol level. And if it’s not working, consult a doctor and get medication.
- Know the signs of a heart attack: If you keep yourself aware of the common signs of a heart attack, you can prevent a heart attack. We have already mentioned above the common signs of a silent heart attack. So, pay attention to the signs like chest pain, sweating, nausea, and discomfort in the jaw, arms, and shoulders.
The Bottom Line: Reasons for Increasing Heart Attacks
The surge in the cases of heart attack among young people is a wake-up call for every individual and also the healthcare system. It is your time to think about and care for your health and take the necessary steps. If needed, get all the medical check-ups done to prevent heart disease. Dr. Digvijay Sharma suggests lifestyle changes to every individual by addressing the factors we discussed above to reverse this concerning trend in India and build a healthier generation.
