What is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack is a medical emergency condition. It usually occurs when there is some obstruction in blood flow to the heart. As blood also carries oxygen with it, the heart muscles begin to die during a heart attack. But if intercepted earlier, the doctors can minimize the damage to heart muscles.

Why are heart attacks at young ages rising these days?
Lifestyle factors, diet, and genetic issues are leading to an increased incidence of heart attacks in the 30s and 40s. Increased stress, is another risk factor that has become a major reason for a heart attack.

What are the most common risk factors for heart attacks?/ What can we do to prevent the risk of getting a heart attack?

High Blood Pressure
It may be hereditary or may be due to other diseases (secondary hypertension). In most cases, lifestyle changes can help to control high blood pressure.
► Routine Management of your bp

Cholesterol
With high cholesterol levels, fatty plaque build-up begins, which may cause the narrowing of vessels carrying blood to the heart (atherosclerosis). With time atherosclerosis may lead to heart disease.
► Monitor your blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol levels at regular intervals.

Diabetes
Patients with diabetes are also more likely to have other chronic health diseases that significantly increase the risk of a heart attack, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
► Routine health check-ups

Smoking and tobacco consumption
Nicotine (an active ingredient in tobacco) narrows the blood vessels and puts an additional burden on the heart.
► Quit alcohol consumption
► Quit tobacco intake in any form

Obesity
Obesity is one of the major causes of heart disease. Obese individuals require more blood to supply oxygen increasing blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to a heart attack.
► Heart-friendly diet and reduce intake of processed food

Exercise
Unfortunately, many youngsters are reluctant to exercise because they think they don’t have enough time after work. Much of the rise in heart attacks at a young age can be attributed to lifestyle changes, like:
Too little or too much exercise is another reason
More time sitting in front of a computer screen or with mobile phones
Decreased physical activity (particularly cardio).
► Exercise more, Cardiovascular exercises such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, dancing, skipping rope any exercise that makes your heart rate go up.

Family history of heart attacks
If a brother, sister, parent, or grandparent had an early heart attack (by age 55 for males and by age 65 for females), you might be at increased risk.

Manage stress
Identify an activity that helps to calm your mind and spend more time doing it.
► Breathing exercises and yoga help to lower stress levels.
► Talk to loved ones, bring a pet home or go on nature walks.
► Identify activities that increase stress and avoid them.
► Instead of browsing through social media before going to bed, consider reading books for half an hour to relax the mind and the body.

Conclusion
Make yourself aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
At the end of the day, it’s important to understand the different heart attack risk factors high blood pressure, waist circumference, & unhealthy BMI and work to correct them.

Dr. K. Karthik MD., DNB

CARDIOLOGY

Dr. A. Eswaran MD.,DNB

CARDIOLOGY