There has been a sudden rise in heart attack cases, especially among the young generation, in India over the past few years, especially post-COVID-19. Alarming reports have come forth where young people face heart attacks during gym workouts, concerning everyone about what is amiss. Even with attempts to keep the body fit, people continue to fall prey to heart problems. For its part, India's National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports a 12.5% surge in deaths resulting from heart attack from 28,413 during 2021 to 32,457 for 2022.
An unhealthy way of life is one of the biggest causes of heart attacks among the youth. In the present fast life, individuals tend to choose convenience rather than health. Most Indians have a tendency to eat junk food, particularly low-cost and easily available roadside foods, rather than cooking healthy homemade food. These processed and unhealthy foods increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases immensely.
Earlier thought to be a disease of older adults, heart attacks are now occurring in younger individuals, with almost 50% of the patients being less than 40 years old. Chronic stress, desk jobs, obesity, diabetes, and hereditary factors play a major role in this shocking trend. Lack of exercise along with mental stress further adds to the problem. Most Indians do not receive periodic health check-ups, which results in undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes, both of which are primary risk factors for heart attacks. Furthermore, poor awareness of early warning signs causes delayed treatment, which tends to be lethal in most cases. Statistics provided by the NCRB also reveal that men experience a far greater incidence of heart attacks than women.
Lifestyle modification by taking a balanced diet with nutritional content, doing regular physical work, and practices of stress-reducing interventions such as yoga and meditation will decrease the risk of heart disease. Regularly doing blood pressure, cholesterol estimation, and sugar tests will catch problems early before complications set in. Cutting down the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and excessive caffeine improves heart health greatly, whereas public education on cardiovascular health and emergency training for identifying the symptoms of a heart attack can save lives. As the heart attack rate is rising in youth we can do programs for general awareness, preventive health care practices, lifestyle changes and do campaigns to make people knowledgeable of what to do to reduce the risk of heart attack. The increase in heart attacks in India, particularly among the youth, is a serious issue that requires urgent attention. By making an earnest effort towards a healthier lifestyle and periodic medical check-ups, people can drastically reduce their risk of heart disease and have a healthier tomorrow.
Rohan Thakur
Research Intern (Media)