Rise in heart attacks among youth, say doctors

Tribune News Service

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Bathinda, July 31

Heart attacks are on the rise among youngsters in the state. Doctors say on an average, they are getting five or six patients such cases every month. Various factors, including smoking and lack of exercise, are responsible for this lifestyle disease.

The deaths of actor Siddharth Shukla and Kannada superstar Puneeth Rajkumar at a young age following heart attacks have sent shock waves across the country.

A city-based consultant interventional cardiologist from Jindal Heart Institute, Dr RK Jindal, said Indians were the highest vulnerable group as far as rising incidence of heart disease was concerned.

He said there had been an exponential rise in heart attacks among youth. The proportion of under-40 adults having heart attacks had risen by 2 per cent every year in the last decade. Globally 17 million people die from cardiovascular diseases, accounting for 30 per cent of total mortality.

“Warm-up before exercise and cooling down body post workout are must. In people with a family history of cardiac issues, cholesterol level should be checked regularly. In case of minor and major blocks in the heart, coronary angiograms can help in detection,” he added.

Prof Dr Vitull K Gupta, executive committee member of the Cardiological Society of India, said “A surge in heart attacks in younger Indians has been reported.”

Doctors’ advice

• Warm-up before exercise and cooling down body post workout are must
• Cardiac patients should take diet low in carbohydrates, fats and processed food