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Guide to Heart Health
May 25, 2022
September 27, 2024
Heart attacks have, in recent times, become more frequent among young adults, and that is quite a severe call for concern. Gone are the days when heart attacks were considered an old-age problem. These days, it is nothing out of the ordinary to hear about a person falling prey to a heart attack in his 20s or even 30s. Now, let's look at what exactly underlines this disturbed trend, how stressors and lifestyle choices link in, and what precautions one could take to protect the heart.
When you imagine heart attacks, you likely think of someone much older, probably in their 60's or 70's. Reality is shifting, however. India saw an alarming upsurge of heart attack in young age in 2023. This isn't a problem just for the older generations anymore. A few reasons recorded for this are:
1. Lifestyle Choices: Our lifestyle plays the biggest role in our health. We are stuck in a cycle that harms our body and it’s difficult to break these habits. Almost everywhere has fast food, and honestly speaking, how many times have we settled for the burger instead of the salad? Bad cholesterol symptoms, such as chest pain and shortness of breath, have become common even among fit people. The sedentary life, combined with smoking and drinking, becomes an invitation to disaster with this kind of dieting.
2. Alcoholism and Smoking: The chest pain due to smoking is not something you should take lightly. Smoking wreaks havoc on your heart and blood vessels, and heart attacks at an age when you should be in the prime of your life are also not unheard of. Alcohol and heart disease also go hand in hand. Excessive drinking leads to signs of heart disease due to alcohol abuse, which includes irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, and eventually heart attacks.
3. Underlying health conditions: These include diabetes and heart disease. Diabetic cardiomyopathy, a kind of heart disease caused by diabetes, for instance, is now more prevalent even among younger age groups. Add to that high blood pressure and bad cholesterol, you have a time bomb going inside your chest.
4. Behavioural Changes: Stress also invites unhealthy coping habits. You may light a cigarette, overeat, or drink excessively when you are under stress. And all these activities only worsen the situation. Can stress cause heart attack? Definitely, it starts becoming a vicious circle: stress invites bad behaviour, and bad behaviour increases the risk of a heart attack.
5. Mental Health Disorders: Depression and anxiety, among other conditions, are not only mood disorders themselves but also risk factors for heart diseases. Some of the highlighted symptoms include palpitations, chest pain, and fatigue-that show your heart is being affected by stress. In case of the development of stress heart palpitations or any other symptom, one should immediately take remedial measures before things get out of hand.
It's everywhere, work, school, relationships, social media. It's unavoidable. Although normal stress is part of one's life, chronic stress is a silent killer. The major link between stress and heart health exists with various causes, although it is often overlooked.
When you are under stress, the "fight or flight" mode is turned on, and the heart rate and blood pressure rise. It increases cortisol levels, which can damage your heart and arteries long-term. Your heart keeps racing due to anxiety about everything that is going on in your life. This poses as a major risk as stress can induce heart attacks.
Heart attacks do not usually come out of the blue. There are warning signs, but they are usually subtle and missed in younger individuals. The sooner you know what to look for and make changes, the better your chances for survival.
Now, what exactly are the pre-symptoms of a heart attack? Classically, these include chest pains or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, and lightheadedness. In young individuals, though, these symptoms can be much more subtle-just a tired feeling or maybe an increase in, well, getting winded. Just because you are young doesn't mean these signs should be ignored. Heart attacks at a young age can and do happen. The treated cases are few, which shows the heart has become vulnerable more than a decade ago, practically since birth.
1. Healthy Changes: The good news is that small changes can make a big difference. Start to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle with more fruits and vegetables, cut down on junk foods, get moving, and quit smoking. It is documented how smoking affects heart, and quitting is considered one of the best things an individual could do to the heart. Regular exercise is essential 30 minutes a day makes all the difference in the world.
2. Medical Checkup and Screening: Regular check-ups with the doctor are a must, especially if one has a family medical history related to heart disease. Go for regular checks of blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. Early intervention can prevent serious complications later on. What to do in case of a heart attack? Knowing this may save your life. If any symptom persists, seek immediate medical help.
If there were ever a time to be concerned about one's heart, one couldn't ask for better than having at least one trusted healthcare professional by one's side. Dr Manjinder Sandhu is one of the reputed cardiologists who offer enough experience in the diagnosis and treatment of heart ailments. His expertise and personal touch will make sure you are at your best.
Don't wait for a heart attack to give you a shock. Consult Dr. Manjinder Sandhu and go for proactive steps to keep the heart healthy. Dr. Sandhu and his team are committed to the early detection, prevention, and management of heart disease to let you live a healthy and long life.
In his patient-centred cardiology approach, Dr Sandhu addresses the fears and complexities of heart treatment, ensuring credibility in medical guidance and emotional well-being throughout the healing process.