Maybe you have heard it in the news or had a more personal experience – young individuals, who died from heart attacks in their 20s and 30s. Were you shocked? It’s hard not to be.
Heart attacks, once an ailment of the elderly, are increasingly striking young Indians. If this trend scares you, take a moment to understand why it’s happening, what are the early signs of heart attack and how to prevent it.
Are you ready to reclaim your heart health? Let’s dive in.
Why are young Indians getting heart attacks?
Let’s start by asking a crucial question: So, what’s driving this sharp rise in heart attacks in young Indians? Is it just genetics or is there something more to it?
1. Sedentary Lifestyle and Poor Diet
How much time do you spend sitting each day working, commuting or binge watching your favorite show? Now pair this inactivity with the modern diet: Sugary beverages, fast food, and processed snacks. This combination causes obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes, all of which are some of the leading causes of heart attacks in youth.
Lack of physical activity decreases your body’s ability to burn fat and keep your cardiovascular system healthy. So, ask yourself: Is your current routine helping or hurting your heart?
-
Chronic Stress
Are you ever overwhelmed by work, financial pressures or personal responsibilities? Chronic stress is not kind to your heart, and stressors are all around us in modern life. It increases blood pressure, disrupts sleep and can even lead to harmful coping mechanisms like smoking or overeating. Sound familiar?
Stress is a constant cycle of releasing hormones, like cortisol, which wreaks havoc on the cardiovascular system when elevated for too long. Managing stress for heart health therefore becomes crucial.
-
Substance Abuse
As part of their social life, many young Indians take up two habits early on: smoking and heavy drinking. Did you know that smoking doubles your risk of heart disease and is one of the leading heart attack risk factors? Oxygen in the blood is reduced by carbon monoxide and nicotine tightens blood vessels, working your heart overtime. Alcohol also damages heart muscle and raises blood pressure.
If you’re a smoker or drink heavily, ask yourself: Is the short term relief worth the long term harm? Since smoking and heart health are directly connected, it’s time to quit, don’t you think?
-
Lack of Regular Health Screenings
Many young adults skip health screenings, thinking they’re too young to get diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol. But here’s the catch: These “silent killers” often have no symptoms until they’ve already done a lot of damage.
Also, check out various cholesterol management tips online to get a clearer picture.
-
Genetic Predisposition
However, some things are out of our hands. As per a paper published on ScienDirect states that, as a population, Indians have a genetic risk of heart disease and tend to develop cardiovascular problems a decade earlier than other ethnic groups. That makes preventive care even more important for us.
Recognizing the Early Signs of Heart Attack
Most people think of heart attacks as dramatic chest pain like in the movies. However, the heart attack symptoms in young people can be much more subtle.
Here’s what to watch for:
- Chest Discomfort: You may feel pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in your chest that doesn’t go away. This is one of the first signs of heart problems.
- Shortness of Breath: Experiencing difficulty breathing even when you’re not exerting yourself.
- Pain in Other Areas: Pain and discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulders, or back.
- Unexplained Fatigue: Unusually tired or weak without an apparent reason.
- Nausea or Dizziness: Indigestion or vertigo-like symptoms.
Have you ever had any of these early heart attack symptoms? If so, don’t brush them off.
Prevention of Heart Attacks in India: What You Can Do
Having understood the causes of heart disease in youth India, we can now focus on the tips to prevent heart disease. Fortunately, most heart attacks can be prevented with adequate lifestyle changes and the knowledge of warning signs.
- Stay Active
How active are you in a week? If you’re doing less than 150 minutes of moderate exercise, you’re not doing enough. Exercise works wonders for heart health in young adults – it lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health.
Start small: Exercise to prevent heart disease can look like brisk walks, yoga sessions or even dance classes.
- Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet
Have you taken a look at your diet plate lately? To keep your lifestyle and heart health intact, focus on foods like:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Fats that are healthy (such as those from nuts, seeds, and fish)
Processed foods, sugary snacks and too much salt should be avoided. You should know that the impact of diet on heart health is huge. What will you eat today to keep your heart healthy?
- Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol
Quit if you smoke without any delay. You start seeing the benefits almost right away, with your heart health improving within days of quitting. Similarly, limit alcohol intake to occasional and in moderate amounts. These young adults heart health tips can help you live longer and healthier!
Think about this: How much better would your heart feel without the strain of nicotine or alcohol?
- Manage Stress
Stress and heart disease are interconnected. So, what is your go to for stress relief? From meditation and mindfulness, to deep breathing exercises or just spending time with loved ones, find ways to de-stress because it’s important for your heart health.
- Regular Health Screenings
What the Data Tells Us?
According to the paper, Cardiovascular Diseases Among Indian Older Adults: A Comprehensive Review, nearly one third of all deaths in India are due to heart diseases. Shockingly, a large number of these deaths occur in people under the age of 40. The most common culprits? Blood pressure that is unchecked, cholesterol that is elevated and blood sugar that is high.
Here’s a thought: If more people put preventive care first and are educated regarding how to reduce heart attack risk, how many lives could be saved?
Conclusion
All of us need to wake up to the rising heart attack cases in India. With knowledge of the causes of sudden heart attacks, knowing the early signs of a heart attack, and changing our lifestyle, we can turn this tide.
Prevention of the disease is a vital part of this strategy and health screenings such as those offered by Thyrocare are a vital part of this. They give you the insights you need to make informed decisions about your health.
So, here’s the big question: what healthy habits for heart are you planning ahead? Will you start exercising? Eat healthier? Book a health check-up?
Small changes equal big results. Start now giving your heart the best care you can.
