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Amidst the rising cases of sudden heart attacks among youngsters, an update from Pune has shocked the country. Vikram Parkhi, a well-known figure in the wrestling world died due to a heart attack while exercising in a gym. The 30-year-old tragically lost his life after he began feeling unwell while doing intense exercises. He was quickly taken to a health centre in Pimpri-Chinchwad, but unfortunately, he passed away before any treatment could be administered.
Talking about the rising cases of heart attack among the young population in the gym, we reached out to Prof Dr Vivek Gupta, Senior Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Hospital, New Delhi.
Cardiologist Shares The Reason For The Rise In Heart Attack
Detailing the probable reasons, Dr Prof. Vivek Gupta shared that mental stress is one of the main reasons. “People within the age of 25-35 have a lot of mental stress. It has also been compounded by COVID-19. Because it had a spike protein which used to disturb the plaque. Plaque means cholesterol blockage in the coronary artery.”
He further explains that coronary arteries which have a plaque of maybe 20%, and 30% do not cause angina. But why does a heart attack happen? Heart attack happens because of the clot formation or thrombus formation in the plaquing. “If you have a plaque already there, then you are more likely to have a vulnerable plaque, that means the plaque which will invite the clot formation.”
Emphasising the mental stress topic, Dr Vivek adds, “If there is a mental stress going on or physical stress going on, excessive physical stress also can lead to, that's why people, patients are having during the gym also. So excessive physical stress or mental stress leads to such kinds of mishaps. The plaque which is there because of the COVID ruptures and invites thrombus formation and leads to a severe heart attack. Sometimes these patients do not survive because they do not have time to reach and the patient's heart goes into arrest.”
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Why Is There A Rise In Heart Attack Among Youngsters?
All over the globe, various studies indicate a concerning trend of increased heart attacks affecting younger adults, particularly those under 50. This rise is attributed to a combination of lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and underlying health conditions.
According to a study published by Max Healthcare, the recent increase in the incidences of heart attacks can be attributed to lifestyle choices, environmental influences, genetics, and underlying health conditions. Some of the points are mentioned below.
- A sedentary lifestyle with inactive habits leads to obesity and related health issues.
- High consumption of processed foods, sugars, and unhealthy fats leads to obesity rates among young adults increasing from 32.7% to 40.9% (2009-2020).
- The use of substances like marijuana, cocaine, and alcohol also increases the heart attack risk.
- The incidence of diabetes among the young population has also risen, contributing to the risk of silent heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues
- Elevated cholesterol levels remain a critical risk factor for heart attack, with poor dietary habits leading to higher levels of LDL cholesterol that can cause arterial blockages.
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Takeaway
The death of Vikram Parkhi, a 30-year-old wrestler has raised questions about the increasing rates of heart attacks among youngsters. While the reason is said to be a heart attack, there is no specific reason as to what led to the cardiac arrest. Dr. Vivek Gupta shared his learnings from his experience. He attributes this trend to several factors, including heightened mental stress exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which can destabilize cholesterol plaques in coronary arteries and lead to clot formation.
With all that being said, one must consult a doctor if going through any difficulty in the chest region.