For years, people mostly thought of coronary artery disease as an elderly disorder. But in more recent years, young people’s heart attacks have shockingly increased. Studies shockingly show that younger patients having heart attacks have the same fatality rate as elderly people. The fact that cardiac illnesses in Indians show five to 10 years earlier than in other world populations raises even more alarming implications.
The 2018–19 INTERHEART study finds that 53 years is the median age for the first incidence of a heart attack across South Asian nations including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. On Western Europe, China, and Hong Kong, the median age for the same is 63 years. This information exposes a concerning trend: cardiac problems among younger Indians are increasing at a startling rate.
Why Are Young Indians Having Such Increase in Heart Diseases?
Many elements help to explain the escalating health catastrophe. The younger generation is more susceptible to cardiac diseases in great part due to changes in lifestyle, bad eating habits, and higher stress. Among the main drivers are:
Diabetes, Hypertension, and High Cholesterol: Young adults’ sedentary lifestyle and rising weight have made diseases like diabetes and hypertension more common. These disorders greatly raise the heart disease risk.
Unhealthy Diets and Processed Foods: The younger generation’s heart health has been declining in response to too high consumption of processed foods, sugary beverages, and high-fat meals.
Sedentary Lifestyles and Work-Related Stress Modern work’ fast-paced nature, long hours in front of screens, and little physical activity have aggravated cardiovascular health even more.
One of the main risk factors for early heart disease, smoking damages blood vessels greatly and increases the likelihood of heart attacks.
Strong family history of heart disease might also be a major factor in genetic sense. Men and women with a family history of heart attacks happening before the age of 55 and 65 respectively should be particularly careful.
Understanding the Heart Attack Warning Signs
Any age can bring heart attacks; early recognition of the signs can save lives. Some important warning indicators include:
This could feel as though pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the left side or center of the chest. It occasionally seems like heartburn.
Upper body pain—that which affects the arms, back, shoulders, neck, jaw, or upper stomach—may point to a heart attack.
Even with little activity, persistent tiredness or shortness of breath might be a warning sign.
Unexplained sweating, lightheadedness, or nausea shouldn’t be taken for granted.
How can one avoid early on heart diseases?
Although pre-existing diseases and genetics might have a part, changes in lifestyle greatly lower the risk of heart disease. Here’s the way:
Quit smoking and avoid tobacco since it raises heart rate and blood pressure, therefore taxing the heart. One of the best strategies to guard your heart is giving up tobacco.
Regular exercise can assist to lower cholesterol, preserve a good weight, and lessen diabetes risk. Professionals advise at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of strenuous activity weekly.
A balanced diet high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables together with less processed foods, saturated fats, and red meat will help greatly enhance heart health.
Keep a Healthy Weight: Overweight raises a person’s chance of cardiovascular disease. Maintaining a good waist-to—hip ratio and establishing reasonable weight loss targets will assist ward against heart problems.
Get Quality Sleep: A poor sleep has been related to diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Every night, one must guarantee 7–8 hours of nonstop sleep.
Control Stress: A silent killer is chronic stress. Using mindfulness techniques, hobbies, or leisure activities will help to greatly lower stress.
Routine health exams include blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and diabetes tests help identify early heart disease risks and enable quick action.
A Demand for Instant Action
The wake-up call is the growing frequency of heart disease among young Indians. Early on preventive action is now more important considering changing lifestyles, rising stress levels, and bad eating patterns. Reducing the risk of heart disease can be achieved in great part by changing your lifestyle, scheduling frequent visits to a doctor, and being alert about symptoms. One of the most important organs, the heart should be given top attention during all phases of life.
