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Why Are Heart Attacks Becoming Common Among The Youth?

South Asian populations, including Indians, account for a high risk of heart ailment even in the younger age groups. In fact, according to a Stanford University study, South Asian people have a 40% higher mortality rate due to heart attacks than people from the rest of the world.  

But of late, it has been observed that the age group that is the worst hit is the 25 – 40 bracket. The age group who is often indulged in unhealthy lifestyles and habits like smoking, alcohol and remain ignorant of the fact that they too are at risk of developing some serious illnesses. Appearing healthy from the outside does not assure perfect health.

It is important to prevent heart attacks as they could lead to severe complications like heart failure. What’s the difference between heart attack and heart failure? Generally, heart attacks occur when the blood flow to a part of the heart is partially or completely cut off, while on the other hand, heart failure is a condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to other body parts as efficiently as it should.

The time has come to become aware of the possibility of grave heart disorders and learn of ways to avert them. No matter how young you are, it is not too early to start taking care of your heart.

Physical activity significantly helps to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. When done regularly, moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic exercises can lower an individual’s risk for coronary heart disease.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D

Why are young people having heart attacks?

Typically people think that the risk of heart ailments rises when a man reaches his 50s and a woman crosses the age of 65. But these days, heart illnesses or other disorders that lead to heart problems such as hypertension or high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are being noticed in people in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Why are the youth today more vulnerable to heart attacks than the previous generations?

The primary reason is the prevalent sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet. Modern lifestyle ups the risk of heart attacks among the youth.

Stress and anxiety

The lives of the youth today are riddled with stress. Stress levels are higher today than ever before. With workplace toxicity, unrealistic expectations, financial insecurity in a volatile job market, distressing news and social media abuse being rampant, the youth today do not have healthy ways of dealing with stress

Chronic stress is dangerous for the body. It causes unhealthy weight gain and high blood pressure. Undiagnosed hypertension damages the arteries and lowers blood supply to the heart. In the absence of enough blood, the heart muscles start degrading and eventually, this causes a heart attack.

Indians have higher risk of CAD at young age compared to other populations. Risk factor profile remains similar to those of old adults such as dyslipidemia, tobacco, diabetes, and hypertension but conditions like hyperhomocysteinemia, hypercoagulable states, and cocaine use, etc. are specific to younger population and should be evaluated in CAD cases. CAD in the young is increasing in prevalence in India due to changing lifestyle. Family history of premature CAD is one of the strongest risk factor in young individuals.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Unhealthy dietary habits

Another answer to the question of why do young people have heart attacks, lies in the foods that the youth today eat. To deal with stress and also because the youth barely has the time or energy to cook healthy meals, unhealthy eating is on a rise. Frequent cravings are satiated with sweets, desserts and oily fried foods. Reliance on take-out foods has increased. All these foods are harmful to the heart.

Trans fats found in deep-fried foods, white bread, cookies, cakes or pastries raise the level of LDL (bad cholesterol). LDL builds up along the inner lining of blood vessels of the heart. This creates an obstruction that narrows the passage and limits how much blood reaches the heart. This may eventually trigger a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Youth these days indulge in extreme diets, take a variety of health supplements on their own which can be harmful. Any diet plan or health supplements should not be taken without discussing with a doctor or registered dietician.

Obesity and diabetes

Unhealthy eating causes obesity and is one of the primary risk factors of diabetes. Studies have found that the obesity rate in India is increasing more rapidly than the global average and India already ranks 3rd in the obesity index. 

The incident rate of obesity is quite high in the youth and obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Both obesity and diabetes are considered risk factors for heart diseases. 

It is important for everyone to stay aware of the warning signs of heart attack and get yourself tested by a cardiologist when in doubt.

Dr. Arpit Verma, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology)

Exercise

Too little or too much exercise is another reason why young people are having heart attacks.

Cardiovascular exercises such as jogging, brisk walking, swimming, dancing, skipping rope (any exercise that makes your heart rate go up) ward off obesity and keep LDL and triglyceride levels in check and thus protect the heart. Exercises also increase blood supply to the heart. But unfortunately, many youngsters are reluctant to exercise because they think they don’t have enough time after work.

On the other end of the spectrum are youngsters who exercise too much in a bid to fit the media-established idea of the ‘perfect body’. If there is a pre-existing heart condition that has not been diagnosed yet, then excessive exercise can damage the heart further and bring on a heart attack. Unregulated weight training can thicken the heart muscles and unprescribed supplements can trigger arrhythmia. 

According to doctors, some people in their 20s start developing heart blockages because of genetics or bad cholesterol. In such a state, if the person puts his/her body through an extreme workout, the exertion can trigger the formation of blood clots near the blockages which can result in a heart attack. 

Sedentary lifestyle

Lack of physical activity, prolonged sitting hours in front of a laptop or TV, excessive screen time, poor sleep habits, improper eating schedule together affect a person’s health. Working in these areas can offer great health benefits and this applies to people of all age groups.

Will a healthy lifestyle reduce heart attack possibilities?

All healthcare experts will tell you that you can substantially lower the risks of cardiac problems by following a healthy lifestyle. A perfectly healthy-looking person may also have an underlying illness that can be diagnosed by routine health checkups. Follow these tips:

If needed, consider seeking the help of a therapist. It is nothing to be ashamed of.

Start taking better care of your heart health from today. No matter how young you are, your health deserves special attention and love. Live healthy to prevent not just heart attacks but many other illnesses as well. And if there is a prevalence of heart disorders or diabetes within the family, get yourself tested at least once a year. Prevention is always better than cure, stay aware and keep up good health.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

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4 Ways To Manage A Panic Attack!

A panic attack is the feeling of sudden and intense anxiety, fear and panic. The condition is twice as likely to occur in women than in men. As these attacks are spontaneous, individuals often become preoccupied with the fear that they may occur again, at any time. The symptoms include trembling, disorientation, nausea, rapid and irregular heartbeats, dry mouth, breathlessness, sweating and dizziness.   Most panic attacks can last anywhere between 5 minutes to half an hour. Thus, interfering with many aspects of personal life causing them to avoid work, school or situations where they fear a panic attack may occur. People are often embarrassed to share what they experience, distancing themselves from family and friends who could support them.  

Handling A Panic Attack:

It’s important to confront your fears and not let panic attacks control you. Here are a few tips to help cope with a panic attack –

Understanding what is happening in your body, is the first step in overcoming the panic attack symptoms. Gather knowledge and work on the factors that may trigger an attack. In a panic attack, anxiety which is the body’s ”fight or flight” response to uncertainty or trouble is misinterpreted as being the dangerous giving rise to the barrage of symptoms. Although these symptoms may seem as if you are dying or having a heart attack, it’s completely harmless.  

Relaxation techniques help to calm the body, relaxes the muscles and aids in thinking more rationally. These also halt the production of stress hormones likes adrenaline. Relaxation methods include calm breathing and deep muscle relaxation.

We tend to breathe faster or hyperventilate when we are anxious. This over-breathing can leave us feeling lightheaded and dizzy. Calm breathing helps to reduce some of these symptoms. Practice calm breathing by inhaling through the nose for 4 seconds, then holding your breath for 1 or 2 seconds and exhaling through the mouth for 4 seconds. Pause for a few seconds before repeating the same again. Calm breathing regulates oxygen intake and reduces dizziness, lightheadedness and tingling sensations associated with over-breathing and should be practised twice every day for 5 minutes.

Deep muscle relaxation eliminates muscular tension, stress and should be practised every day as a preventive mechanism, not just when in panic and stressful situations. Here you begin with tensioning a target muscle group like the neck or shoulders. Take deep breaths and tense the muscles as much as possible for 5 seconds. Release the tension and exhale. Remain relaxed for the next 15 seconds before moving on to the next muscle group.    

The 3-3-3 method is most widely used and effective in aborting a panic attack. It involves looking around your environment to identify three objects and three sounds, then moving three body parts. Many people find this strategy helps focus and ground them when anxiety overwhelms them.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Thoughts associated with panic attacks can be grouped into two categories: overestimating and catastrophizing. To break the cycle of panic attacks, we first need to change the way we think and then change our actions.

Overestimating is guessing what will happen next, these are not facts. Remember that your fears are unlikely to happen.

Challenge your catastrophic thoughts by imagining the worst possible thing that could happen and then think of a way of coping up with it.

You need to face situations, places and activities that you have been avoiding in fear of suffering a panic attack. Make a list of such activities or situation and try exposing yourself to these, for a brief period to start with and then gradually extending the time. Facing what you fear is sometimes frightening. Take your time and you will eventually be able to overcome your anxiety.  

Living in fear of a panic attack and avoiding situations that may cause them only leads to an unending cycle of fear and anxiety. The goal is not to eliminate attacks but to manage them without fear.

Ways to Prevent a Panic Attack:

  

Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients, and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.  

Physical Side Effects Of Stress In Women. Things You Must Know!

Stress can affect all aspects of your life, including your emotions, behaviours, thinking ability and physical health. Apparently, people handle stress differently. In fact, the stress response varies between males and females. Symptoms can be vague and may mimic those caused by medical conditions.

Women are believed, to face situations heads on rather than using the ‘fight and flight’ response. This is thought to be mediated by oxytocin, an anti-stress hormone produced more in females as compared to males, hence helping them in managing stress tactfully.

With women always trying to match up to their male counterparts at work while living up to the ideal housewife standards at home; they are more prone to be stressed. Stress usually manifests its effects on behaviour and can be easily spotted with changes in appetite, avoiding responsibilities or increased use of alcohol, drugs, etc. Certain physical symptoms that can be seen are Low Energy, Headaches, upset stomach including diarrhoea, constipation and nausea, Insomnia, Loss of sexual desire, nervousness and shaking cold or sweaty hands and feet and also Clenched jaw and grinding teeth. This can, in turn, lead to mental health problems, such as different types of depression, anxiety and personality disorders, cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke, obesity and other eating disorders, menstrual problems, sexual dysfunction, such as impotence and loss of sexual desire in both men and women. Skin and hair problems, such as acne, psoriasis and eczema and permanent hair loss, gastrointestinal problems, such as GERD, gastritis and ulcerative colitis.

In these present times, stress is an unavoidable part of our lifestyle. But it all depends on how you manage your stress. Stress management is something we all need to learn.

Also Read: Benefits of Jumping Jacks: An In-depth Exploration into this Simple Exercise

The first step in managing stress is recognizing it in your life. Everyone feels stress in a different way. You may get angry or irritable, lose sleep, or have headaches or stomach upset.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Stress Management Tips for Women

All these activities may help you relax down. If you find yourself struggling to seek medical help. Talk to your doctor who may suggest counselling or prescribe medicines, such as antidepressants or sleep aids. Your relationships can be a source of major stress in your daily life and it’s okay to see a counsellor. You can seek help from:

Disclaimer: The above information has been prepared by a qualified medical professional and may not represent the practices followed universally. The suggestions listed in this article constitute relatively common advice given to patients and since every patient is different, you are advised to consult your physician, if in doubt, before acting upon this information. Lupin Limited has only facilitated the distribution of this information to you in the interest of patient education and welfare.

Must Read: 10 Effects of Stress on the Body

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