Are heart attacks increasing among youth and is Kovid-19 responsible for this? doctors say

When thirty-seven-year-old media professional Ayan Jain* (name changed) dies suddenly of a heart attack, his young family is devastated. Ayaan had no previous history of heart disease, which made it difficult for the family to accept the fate. Over the years, the media has reported the demise of several celebrities at a young age due to heart-related ailments – be it Siddharth Shukla (40), singer KK (53), or Puneet Rajkumar (46). While many recovered, there are increasing reports of relatively young people having heart attacks. Recently, Sushmita Sen also suffered a heart attack at the age of 47, as did Remo D’Souza in 2020, when he was 45. In 2021, former Indian cricket captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly suffered a heart attack at the age of 48.

On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, popular TV actor Nitesh Pandey, who played the role of Dheeraj Kumar in the popular soap ‘Anupamaa’, passed away at the age of 51. While his relatives have said that it is due to cardiac arrest and the police. Has said that prima facie it seems to be a heart attack, investigation is going on.

So what are the causes and is COVID-19 related to it in anyway? Dr Bimal Chhajer, Director, Saaol Heart Centre, shared his insights with Zee News Digital.

Is the risk of heart problems increasing in younger people?

Reported cases of young people dying of heart attacks may be influenced by a number of factors, says Dr Chhajer. “First of all, it is important to note that heart attacks can occur at any age, but they are most commonly associated with older individuals. However, if there is a clear increase in cases among younger people, this can be attributed to a number of reasons. can be held responsible.” share. Dr Chhajer lists some of the main reasons:

1) Increased awareness and reporting: Better access to health information and advances in medical technology may contribute to better detection and reporting of heart-related conditions, including heart attacks, in young individuals. Previously, such cases may have gone unnoticed or misdiagnosed.

2) Change in lifestyle pattern: Modern lifestyles often include sedentary behaviour, unhealthy eating habits, excessive stress and lack of physical activity. These factors may contribute to the development of risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, even in young people.

3) Genetic predisposition: Some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to heart disease, which can increase the risk of heart attack at an early age.

Dr Chhajer says, “It is important to note that while the reported cases may seem alarming, they may represent a small portion of the overall population, and any potential increase is too early to fully understand More research is needed.”

Heart attack and COVID-19: Is there a connection?

Dr. Chhajer says the relationship between COVID-19, the COVID vaccine and heart attacks in youth is still being investigated. “Rare cases of inflammation of the heart, such as myocarditis and pericarditis, have been reported following COVID-19 infection or vaccination, but the overall risk appears to be very low. However, it is important to note that the risk of serious illness or death from COVID- 19 is usually higher than the risk of heart complications,” says Dr.

Heart attack: warning signs to watch for

Dr. Chhajer explains that the warning signs of a heart attack can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include:

1) Chest pain or discomfort: It is often described as a feeling of pressure, tightness, or tightness in the chest. It may last for a few minutes or may come and go.

2) Pain or discomfort in other upper areas of the body: This may include pain in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or abdomen.

3) Breathlessness: Feeling short of breath or shortness of breath, which may occur with or without chest discomfort.

4) Cold sweat, nausea or dizziness: These symptoms can occur with or without chest pain. It is important to note that some people, especially women, may experience unusual symptoms less commonly associated with heart attacks, such as fatigue, indigestion or dizziness. If you or someone around you experiences symptoms that may indicate a heart attack, it is essential to seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services.

Steps to Take for a Healthy Heart

To keep the heart healthy, Dr Chhajer recommends taking the following steps:

1) Eat a balanced diet: Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats in your meals. Limit your intake of processed foods, saturated and trans fats, sodium, and added sugars.

2) Engage in regular physical activity: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week.