For long, it has been considered most illnesses including heart attacks and cardiac deaths afflicts the older population but it is no longer true. According to recent American research, it has been observed that there is a 13% increase in sudden cardiac arrest among those aged mid-30s to mid-40s. Further, as per the Indian Heart Association, heart diseases are also striking Indians at an earlier age than other demographics, often without warning. Few studies have found that Indians suffer from heart diseases at least 10 years before people in the West. 

Why are the incidence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) rising among youngsters in India?

Dr. Rathod: Heart attacks are rising among youngsters due to sedentary lifestyles, high stress work environment, diabetes, obesity, increasing consumption of alcohol, drug use, smoking, and lack of a balanced diet, irregular sleep cycles and hypertension. Along with these, we need to be aware of the fact that every individual is different and have different life situations, family history, and suppression of diseases in the past since some patients, however, may not have any known risk factor but still they get heart attacks. These factors not only increase the risk of having a sudden cardiac arrest but also can lead to other medical conditions and complications too. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness about SCA among the youth by encouraging them to get regular health check-ups and know the risk factors and the measures.

What are the symptoms and causes of sudden cardiac arrest?

Dr. Hirapur: one may encounter before experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, chest discomfort, irregular heart palpitations, short spells of breathlessness, sudden feeling of weakness and light-headedness that can lead to unconsciousness.

The following heart conditions can cause sudden cardiac arrest: coronary artery disease, heart attack, enlarged heart called cardiomyopathy, heart valve disease, heart problem present at birth, called a congenital heart defect, Long QT syndrome (LQTS), and other heart signaling problems.

Why and how does sudden cardiac arrest happens and how to manage it immediately?

Dr. Hirapur: Sudden cardiac arrest occurs without a warning, bringing the heart to a stop. It occurs because of erratic heartbeats triggered by an electrical malfunction that stops the heart from pumping blood to the body. This leads to sudden death of a person if not intervened within the first 6 minutes with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) because this technique can improve the chances of survival as it immediately restarts heart functions and provides blood supply to the brain.

Generally, human heart beats around 60-100 beats per minute and any fluctuation in this rate, either too slow (Bradycardia) or too fast (Tachycardia) is referred to as cardiac arrhythmia. People who experience a sudden increase in heart rate or prone to heart diseases can experience a fatal arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).

Another important thing to know is your Ejection Fraction (EF) -- the percentage of blood that is pumped out of your left ventricle with each heartbeat. If your heart muscles have been damaged by a heart attack, or if your heart muscle or a heart valve have problems, then, your EF may be low. A normal EF is 55-75 percent. If your EF is less than 35% then, you are at a much higher risk of SCA. 

We can use a painless ultrasound called an echocardiogram that uses sound waves to cardiac catheterization, a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is channeled through blood vessels of the leg or arm to the heart to determine your EF.

Why heart attack happening while exercising and who is at risk?

Dr. Tyagi: Going to the gym is often seen as a great way to stay fit and healthy, but only few people know about 1) The risks factors associated with exercising such as obesity, diabetes, poor diet sedentary lifestyle, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and lack of regular exercise. Be aware of your body and the symptoms that are not quite right - chest pain during exercise, shortness of breath; cold sweat; nausea; light-headedness; increased heart rate; and feeling faint or dizzy.  Stop exercising immediately and get right away the medical attention. 2) Who are at risk --People especially men over 40, with pre-existing heart conditions, overweight, have high blood pressure, or suffer from diabetes  plus.

What are the preventive measures to avoid heart attacks while exercising?

1) Doing warm-up exercises before beginning any strenuous activity is necessary 2) Stretching exercises are useful as they prepare the body for more intense physical exertion 3) Monitoring your physical condition by consulting with your doctor regularly will help identify any potential issues early on 4) Try not to work out too hard or for too long at once 5) Limit caffeine intake before heading to the gym as it can increase the risk of a cardiac arrest 6)  Listen to your body - if you feel tired or exhausted during your exercise, take a break and rest well before resuming.

Knowing basic first-aid techniques like CPR can help save lives if someone suffers from a heart attack while exercising – so it is worth learning about this life-saving skill!

Regular check-ups and being aware of signs/symptoms related to cardiovascular diseases will also help prevent serious consequences including death if not taken seriously especially while exercising or playing sports!

What are the precautionary Measures to be taken to maintain our good heart health?

Dr. Dhananjay: As per the Ayurveda, Indian Medical System, to have good heart health, one must follow healthier lifestyle practices on a day-to-day basis. A healthy routine includes eating a nutrition rich balanced diet, exercising regularly, refraining from smoking and drugs, regulating alcohol consumption and sleep cycles and management of stress. Avoid milk in any form, eat raw garlic by chewing, honey and cinnamon tea, Arjun bark and Ashwagandha decoction can help in combating stress as well as prevent the heart attacks.

Dr. Rathod: Ninety percent of all diseases is related to LIFE STYLE choices – the foods we eat, the amount of exercises we do, and toxins we are exposed to and only 10% is accounted by genetics. Yogic Pranayama helps in getting enough oxygen to the body and works as a preventive measure for cardiovascular diseases. Homeopathy has a good scope of treating the cardiovascular diseases with Adonis, Vernalis, Cactus grandiflorus, Cratageous, Naja, Viscum album etc. It is important to find the best Homeopath who practices Hahnemannian homeopathy.

Dr. Hirapur: Regular health check-ups are vital in order to diagnose any issues and resolve them through specific medications. Consulting a cardiologist should be done on a priority basis at least once a year. It is also important to know one’s family history of diseases and medical conditions and take the necessary precautionary measures.

Why young people are more likely to die of heart attacks post-COVID.

Susan Cheng, MD, MPH, director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging, Department of Cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute said that their recent study findings showing that heart attack deaths among young people ages 25 to 44have spiked nearly by 30% in the U.S. since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic especially over the first two years of the pandemic.

She said that many things that COVID could do to the cardiovascular system. It appears to be able to increase the stickiness of the blood and increase the likelihood of blood clot formation. It seems also to stir up inflammation in the blood vessels and cause in some people an overwhelming stress may be related directly to the infection or situations around the infection that can also cause a spike in blood pressure.

Cheng said that people who have COVID-19 multiple times also are at higher risk of heart problems. She emphasized keeping blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar under control.