‘Young adults developing heart disease’

Patna: Around 15% of patients coming to the outpatient department (OPD) of the cardiac unit of hospitals in the city are found in the age group of 20 to 40 years , health experts said. Inactivity, stress, insomnia, smoking, drinking, diabetes, hypertension and obesity are main factors that contribute to heart ailments, they added. Dr Sanjeev Kumar, head of cardiothoracic unit at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna (AIIMS-P), said, “Out of the total patients coming to the OPD of cardiac units, 15% to 20% are between 20 to 40 years of age. They come with problems like pain in chest on exertion, breathlessness on exertion or palpitation.” He further added that some also come with serious conditions and had to undergo surgeries.According to Dr Sanjeev, a fortnight back, a 21-year-old woman underwent angiography at AIIMS-P, which revealed that her main left artery was blocked. A month and a half back, a 24-year-old woman had undergone a bypass surgery. In the past one year, more than 40 bypass surgeries were done at AIIMS-P, out of which seven were between 20 to 40 years of age and they accounted for nearly 17% of the total surgeries done at the hospital. Similarly, 250 angioplasty done at the hospital in the same period, 50 were performed on young people and they accounted for 20%."In fact 20 years back, we did not have young people with heart problems, but now the number of such cases has been increasing for the past one decade. We do not surprise now when youngsters with cardiac issues come to us. When any young person comes to us, we get him thoroughly checked and get all the tests done,” he said.Director of the cardiac unit at Jaya Prabha Medanta, Dr Pramod Kumar, advised people to improve their lifestyle for a healthy heart.“Out of the total heart patients I see, nearly 5% to 10% are young ones. Smoking is one of the main reasons, along with high blood pressure, bad food habits or not taking food on time and strong family history leading to heart problems in young people.”

Ex-min admitted to hospital for heart surgery

Former Union minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, 54, underwent an angioplasty at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. He was admitted after experiencing high blood pressure, which led to a heart attack. The procedure was performed by Dr. Suresh Vijan.

Is 40 the new 60 when it comes to heart health?

Heart attacks are becoming increasingly common among younger adults, with one in five cases now occurring in patients under 40 years old, according to the American College of Cardiology. In India, the age of onset for heart attacks has also lowered, with men in their 20s and 30s experiencing sudden cardiac events. Rapid westernization and changes in diet have contributed to a rise in "diabesity" (diabetes and obesity) in young Indians, leading to poor heart health. Taking steps to improve health, such as portion control, can help combat this trend.

Rotary Club to perform 365 heart surgeries for free

The Rotary Club in Chennai is organizing activities to raise awareness about cardiovascular health on World Heart Day 2023. They have taken up cardiovascular disease prevention as a cause and will be providing 365 free heart surgeries starting from September. A mascot called Daya will be launched to promote cardiac health awareness in a fun way. Over 6,000 Rotarians participated in an attempt to form the largest human heart formation and create a Guinness Record. Experts highlighted the importance of exercise, sleep, stress management, and demonstrated CPR to save lives in emergencies.

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