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Earlier, heart attacks were usually seen in people aged 55 or above, but recently we have lost celebrities like Sidharth Shukla, Puneet Rajkumar, Raj Kaushal, who were in their early 40s. All of them followed a healthy lifestyle and a suitable fitness routine, which helps in keeping the heart healthy. Furthermore, doctors around the world are trying to draw attention to the increasing cases of heart-related diseases – in fact the heart is the second most common organ affected by COVID after the lungs.
Dr. Rajesh Thatchthodial, Professor and Head, Department of Adult Cardiology, Amrita Hospitals, Kochi shared, “Earlier, heart attack was known as a disease of aging and usually, people above 60 years of age are suffering from it. There were victims. But the scenario has changed over the years and we are increasingly seeing young population falling prey to it. The interesting thing is that you may look very fit and healthy from outside, but diseases can arise inside your body which you are completely unaware of. I see around 200 young patients a month in my OPD with cardiac problems.”
For the unversed, a heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked. This results in a lack of oxygen and, if not treated promptly, the death of the heart muscle. Also known as a myocardial infarction, the symptoms of a heart attack can vary among people.
Risks of over-exercising
Dr. Sanjay Mittal Director Clinical and Preventive Cardiology, Heart Institute, Medanta shares some signs of over-exercise that people should not ignore:
– Get yourself evaluated if a person feels dizzy or lightheaded while exercising
– If you have high blood pressure (extremely high blood pressure), make sure you are taking steps to control your BP before doing heavy exercise.
– If you have a family history of a young person who collapsed without warning, it may indicate that you are carrying a gene that predisposes you to collapse
– Get yourself evaluated if you have chest discomfort, shortness of breath
– Performance enhancing drugs can cause cardiac irregularities
Here are some common frequently asked questions related to heart attacks:
- What is the cause of heart attack?
A heart attack happens when one or more of your coronary arteries become blocked. Excessive slowing of the heart rhythm also causes cardiac arrest. Experts say that over time, fatty deposits including cholesterol build up in plaque that later narrows the arteries, leading to a condition called atherosclerosis that leads to a heart attack. - Is Heart Attack The Same As Cardiac Arrest?
Although they are remotely similar, they are clinically diagnosed differently and different treatments are used for them. - Can stress cause a sudden heart attack?
Stress causes an increase in blood pressure, an inflammation that is fatal to the heart. These conditions increase the risk of cardiac arrest. - What are the common symptoms of heart attack?
– tightness, pain, or pain in your chest or arms spreading to the neck, jaw, or back – nausea – indigestion – heartburn – stomach pain – shortness of breath – cold sweats – tiredness – lightheadedness or sudden dizziness - What are some of the most common heart attack myths?
myth: Heart attack and cardiac arrest are one and the same; FactCardiac arrest is an electrical problem and a heart attack is a circulation problem. - Myth: Heart diseases are caused by poor lifestyle and thin and active people are safer
Fact: Heart diseases can be caused by genetic factors apart from a few other factors. In recent times we have seen some of the fittest die of heart attacks. Exercising more and putting more pressure on the heart than normal is also believed to be a cause of heart attack. - Myth: Heart disease is a men’s disease!
Fact: Heart disease kills as many women as men. It was believed that female hormones protect them from heart disease but this is not true.