Here’s Why Heart Problems Are Rising Among Young Indians

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) occurs when the blood supply that provides oxygen to the heart muscle is significantly decreased or entirely cut off, often due to a clogged artery. Arteries can get clogged or narrowed due to the presence of plaque, which is made up of fat, cholesterol, and other chemicals. Because the heart needs oxygen to function, the heart muscle that has lost its blood supply begins to suffer. The extent of cardiac damage depends on the size of the area affected by the blocked artery and the duration between the heart attack and treatment.

 

Heart disease (the umbrella term for which heart attack is one subset) kills nearly one in every five adults between the ages of 25 and 64. Young men are the most vulnerable, while young women are vulnerable in a unique way: while men are more likely to have a heart attack, young women are 1.6 times more likely to die in the year following a heart attack. Dr. Sujay Shad, Best Cardiac Surgeon in India at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, also added that, ‘women are more likely than men to have diabetes which increases the risk of complications from a cardiac attack’.

 

Heart attacks are on the rise in young Indians, with sedentary lifestyles as a primary cause. Obesity has increased in this age group in general throughout the years. Less movement in addition to less exercise and worse food choices equals poorer health outcomes, including more heart attacks.

 

In this article Dr. Sujay Shad, has discussed in detail why heart problems are rising among young Indians, signs of heart attack, and reasons for it.

 

 

Heart attacks might seem different to different individuals. It may feel like pressure, pain, or a squeezing or burning sensation in the middle of the chest or upper abdomen, especially with exertion. People frequently confuse acid reflux with heart problems, but they may be distinguished. One of the main differences is that patients will experience an increase in heart symptoms in response to exercise. When heart symptoms worsen, pain or a burning sensation may spread to the jaw, arm, or back.

 

A heart attack may affect women differently than it does men. Women are more likely than men to experience less obvious heart attack symptoms, such as:

 

 

 

 

Elevated blood pressure is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. If an individual has high blood pressure for an extended period, it might damage the arteries. Furthermore, evidence shows that higher blood pressure in early adulthood might cause heart problems years later. Doctors discovered that young Indians with high blood pressure were more likely to develop late-life coronary heart disease and heart failure, regardless of whether they had controlled their blood pressure as they grew older. In other words, controlling blood pressure when you are young is critical.

 

 

Extra pounds cannot directly cause heart attacks, but they do contribute to other serious heart problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which can cause plaque to build up in the arteries, raising the chance of a heart attack. Obesity is increasing across all age groups (the rate of obesity has more than doubled in the last 30 years), and doctors estimate a six-fold increase in the number of obese adults in the next 40 years. Obesity has taken hold by the time these young adults reach middle age, as the pounds accumulate over time.

 

 

Type 2 diabetics are more likely to suffer a heart attack. If an individual has diabetes, they are twice as likely to develop heart disease as someone who does not have diabetes, and at a younger age. Diabetes-related high blood sugar levels can harm the blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart. Though type 2 diabetes has traditionally been a disease of older people, the number of teenagers and young adults with type 2 diabetes has more than doubled in the previous two decades.

 

 

Cholesterol is required by the body to build healthy cells, but too much of a good thing may result in a heart attack. Having high cholesterol levels might result in fatty deposits building up in the blood vessels. As these deposits accumulate, it becomes more difficult for blood to flow through the arteries and reach the heart. Furthermore, the deposits can separate from the arterial walls and form a clot, resulting in a heart attack. Young Indians are particularly susceptible to heart attacks if they also have high cholesterol because having high cholesterol as an adult increases the risk of cardiovascular events compared to having it later in life.

 

 

There are tears in the blood vessels in the coronary arteries in young women who present with heart attacks. The origin of spontaneous coronary artery dissection is unknown; however, it affects women more than men. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection occurs when blood gets stuck between one of the three layers that comprise the arterial wall. This trapped blood then bulges inward, obstructing the artery and causing a heart attack.

 

 

The prior generation may have contributed to the growth in young adult heart attacks: having a parent or sibling with a history of heart disease before the age of 55 for men or 65 for women increases the chance of developing heart disease. Knowing the family's history could indicate not only the risk of having a heart attack but also the timing of the risk. Heart attack risk may also be influenced by genetics and culture.

 

 

The use of marijuana and cocaine is another suspected risk factor for the rise in heart attacks among young individuals. Researchers discovered that the youngest heart attack patients were more likely to disclose substance use, including marijuana and cocaine. Methamphetamine, alcohol, and opiate abuse are all linked to hospitalizations for heart failure.

 

 

Heart problems and mental health problems are inextricably linked. Stress, sadness, and nervousness are all on the rise among young adults and should not be ignored. We need to be familiar with the potential link between mental health issues and heart attacks. Young individuals with depression or overall poor mental health report more heart attacks, strokes, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease than their peers without mental health concerns.

 

Heart diseases are becoming very common in India, affecting not only the elderly but also individuals from children to middle-aged people. Taking preventive measures for heart health is crucial to avoid occurrences of heart-related issues. Dr. Sujay Shad can provide valuable insights into heart diseases and information about the heart surgery cost in Delhi. He is also Professor and Senior Consultant of Heart Surgery and Director of Heart Transplants, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital which is the best heart hospital in India.

 

Do visit him to learn more!

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