Young at heart attacked
https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170410/jsp/knowhow/story_145446.jsp
Your Health - Dr. Gita Mathai
Heart attacks are accepted as part and parcel of aging, with men over 45 and women over 55 aware that any chest pain they feel may signal an attack. Now, however, the scenario in India is changing. Heart attacks are occurring in men in their twenties and thirties. Since many are unaware that they are at risk, they fail to recognise the symptoms and get help in time. Therefore, 25 per cent of these first attacks unfortunately turn fatal.
The most common symptom of a heart attack is crushing chest pain which can radiate to the neck, jaw, arm or back. It may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, pallor, dizziness, sweating and an inability to stand. The heartbeat and pulse may be irregular. It can be mistaken for acid dyspepsia, GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease), pain in the chest wall, pleural infection, gall bladder disease or eso- phageal spasm.
If a person is suspected of having a heart attack, an ECG (electro cardiogram) is done, which usually shows characteristic changes. Blood tests for cardiac enzymes and blood troponin show elevated levels if the cardiac muscles are damaged. A chest X-ray can be taken to estimate the size of the heart. An echocardiogram delineates the damaged and non-functioning areas of the heart. Cardiac catheterisation is used to visualise the blocked arteries. This helps to determine whether the blocks can be treated by placing stents into the arteries or if a bypass surgery is needed. After recovery, heart function can be evaluated with a treadmill test, cardiac computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
India was an agrarian society where villagers laboured hard in the fields from sunrise till sunset. People developed preventable infectious diseases and died young. Now, education has changed their lifestyle. Many villagers have migrated to cities. Tobacco use is rampant. Exercise is minimal. Food habits have changed, with precooked, high fat, fast food being consumed as the norm. The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is minimal.
Many apparently healthy, young, adult males lead sedentary lifestyles. They work long hours and do night duty in an attempt to succeed in their profession. Though many offices have gyms, they are underutilised due to lack of awareness and time, and fatigue. Their weight gradually creeps up. They deposit fat around the stomach. In no time at all, their waist measures more than the ideal 32 inches and the BMI (weight divided by height in meter squared) is more than 25.
Food habits are often bad, with irregular eating times and dependency on oily fried snacks and trans fat filled fast food. Chronic lack of sleeps causes the blood pressure to go up. All this may precipitate diabetes and cause a deranged lipid profile. These abnormalities may be missed as no check ups are done. Many young men decide to have their first check up at 40 when it may already be too late.
Many are smokers, which adds substantially to the risk. Other precipitating factors are sudden emotions as while watching sports, excessive alcohol consumption, heavy fatty meals or sudden unaccustomed physical effort.
To prevent sudden death from a heart attack, the habit of aerobic exercise should be inculcated in children from first grade itself. This should be continued into adult life and in the work place. If you cannot spare an hour, or the recommended 150 minutes a week, run quickly up the stairs and down again slowly for 10 minutes a day. Avoid smoking and excessive binge drinking. Pay attention to your diet and consume 4-6 helpings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily.
Dr Mathai is a paediatrician and author of Staying Healthy in Modern India. Mail your questions to yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in
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