What is world heart day?
Worldwide, every year World Heart Day is celebrated on September 29. Heart diseases are accountable for nearly half of all Noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths making it the world’s number one killer. World Heart Day is, therefore, the perfect platform for the cardiovascular disease (CVD) community to unite in the fight against heart diseases. In May 2012, world leaders has committed to reducing global mortality from NCDs by 25% by 2025.
Aims of World Heart Day:
It aims to educate people that by controlling risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, at least 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases could be avoided. It is a campaign where communities, families, individuals, and government participates in activities to take charge of their heart health and spread awareness about the same to others around them. Through this campaign people from various backgrounds and countries unite to fight against the burden caused by CVD.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Heart disease
This year, covid 19 pandemic has taken the spotlight in the healthcare sector. It has displayed the importance of the healthcare profession; national healthcare systems and it has also showcased our individual responsibilities for our own health and how vulnerable we are. Studies have shown that there is a link between cardiovascular diseases and COVID19, therefore, taking care of the heart is more important than ever today.
What is a heart attack?
A heart attack refers to a blockage or a blood clot being formed within the arteries of heart, which blocks blood flow to the heart. When the blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked due to the formation of blood clot, an outcome of fatty deposits, including cholesterol, the coronary arteries can narrow down, leading to a heart attack.
Why has heart attack become so prevalent in young people?
I am sharing here a story of a young boy who visited our emergency a few months back. ABC a 28-year-old boy came to our emergency in a symbiosis Hospital with severe Chest Pain of 3 hrs duration. He was a student of a technical institute. He was a chain smoker, smoking almost two packets per day for 5 years. He use to sleep at the early hours of the morning. He has a habit of having unhealthy food. He never use to go for exercise or not used to participate in sports. He was an alcoholic as well. On assessment, we found that he was suffering from a massive heart attack. He was having breathing difficulty and was also drowsy. His Blood Pressure was very low. We tried our best to improve his condition but untimely his demise left everyone in a state of shock and grief.
Recently a celebrity has also passed away because of a heart attack. The unfortunate event has sent shock waves across the film fraternity and also among devoted fans. While some lament over the actor’s passing, others imply the unpredictability of life and show concern over the growing prevalence of heart attacks in the younger population.
Indian studies has shown that Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) occurs at a younger age in Indians, with over 50% of CAD mortality occurring in individuals aged less than 50 years, and one-fourth of all heart attacks are reported in patients below 40 years. While doctors and medical professionals are yet to find conclusive answers to such occurrences, they have somehow decoded a few factors that could be leading to it.
What leads to heart attacks in youngsters?
Indians are more vulnerable to CAD at a younger age because of inherent insulin resistance and contribution from varying lifestyle makes. Prevalence of acute MI as high as 25 to 40% has also been reported in the young. In Asian Indians, the risk of CAD is 3-4 times higher than Americans, 6 times higher than Chinese, and 20 times higher than Japanese. The reports also suggest a higher CAD prevalence in young Indian males than females. Hormonal protection possibly prolongs the development of atherosclerosis in women.
In an Indian study, Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, psychological factors, poor daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, regular alcohol consumption, absence of regular physical activity, and Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1 ratio), are risk factors for CAD and these account for 90% population attributable risk.
Pathophysiologically, young CAD can be classified into four major mechanisms namely atheromatous, non-atheromatous, hypercoagulable states, and associated with substance misuse. Atheromatous CAD is common in young and the cause is smoking and dyslipidemia. Non-atheromatous CAD is maybe majorly associated with congenital anomalies of coronary arteries that manifest at a young age. Evidence related to hypercoagulable states like antiphospholipid syndrome, nephrotic syndrome, factor V Leiden mutation, etc., suggests the possibility of ACS or MI in young. Being young at age, this population is often involved in illicit drug abuse. Cocaine use association with MI has previously been reported
Key reasons in young people:
Young people have a lot of stress – stress of performance, stress associated with urbanization, lifestyle – which often lead to smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating habits and patterns. This in turn causes stress on the heart, leading to either heart attack, cardiac arrest or arrhythmia. Young people these days do not get any prior heart check-ups. People start gym without a pre-cardiac check-up and then during gym they do weight training, which increases the thickness of the heart, they do treadmill workout, cross training. Some even take supplements which are not good and cause damage to the heart, leading to arrhythmia. When a person is in their twenties, they slowly begin to develop negligible blockages because of increased cholesterol or other genetic factors. However, when the person faces an acutely stressful event, undergoes a significant physical exertion without preparation or severe biological stressors such as an infection, the exertion on the heart causes clots to form near the already present blockages, leading to clots and even a heart attack. Though difficult to quantify, stress, adverse childhood experiences and psychological behaviour also play an important role in the development of CAD.
Prevention is better than cure:
The most important thing is to perform a cardiac check-up. In case a person has a strong family history of cardiac ailments, then one should visit a cardiologist. Changing one’s sedentary lifestyle, curbing excess sugar consumption, monitoring lipids, controlling fat consumption, stress management, and stopping smoking and drinking, which increase the chances of cardiovascular disease.
What Investigations are required to know whether one is suffering from heart disease?
All individuals should be investigated for risk factor profiles including diabetic profile [fasting and postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile (LDL-C, HDL-C, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, non-HDL-C cholesterol, serum lipoprotein-a), and serum homocysteine. Some of the investigations are to be performed in selected cases based on clinical suspicion including protein C, protein S, antiphospholipid antibodies, and urine screen for cocaine. For a definitive diagnosis of CAD, investigations like Electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac troponin, and coronary angiography are a must. Specialized investigations are necessary in selected individual cases.
Let us celebrate World Heart Day by going for heart check-ups and promising ourselves to eat healthy and live happily. Best wishes on World Heart Day to you.
How to book an appointment?
Dr. Kartik Bhosale provides the best treatment for various heart diseases in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune. For more information about our comprehensive treatment options, or to request an appointment with the best cardiologist in Pune call +918420070081 / +918420070082 or Click on Book Appointment for online booking with your near hospital.