Tragedy struck the state of Gujarat back in September when 19-year-old Vinit Kunvariya succumbed to death by a heart attack while practicing Garba, the traditional dance form, for the upcoming Navratri season. In the Junagadh region, a case of a 24-year-old came to light when he succumbed to a sudden heart attack in a similar fashion. Another incident took place in Ghaziabad, UP, where a young man collapsed with a heart attack in a similar manner while performing a regular treadmill routine in a gym. Such incidents of unexpected heart attack-related deaths, in younger people particularly, raise a plethora of questions.
What Does NCRB Stats Have To Say About It?
As per the annual report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India’, heart attack deaths in people below the age of thirty have surged by approximately 40% between the year 2018 to 2022. In the year 2022, there were 32,457 incidents of heart attacks that killed 32,410 people, and in those below the age of 30, the numbers have increased from 2,371 in 2018 to 3,329 in 2022. Since 2012, heart attack-related deaths have seen a rise of 75% from 18,522 in 2012 to 32,410 in 2022. In state-wise analysis, Maharashtra has the highest number of heart attack-related deaths, followed closely by Kerala.
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Did Covid Play A Role In The Rising Numbers Of Heart Attack Deaths?
The Ministry of Health and Welfare commented on a possible linkage between the COVID-19 infection and the increasing number of heart attack deaths in the country. A study Titled ‘Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18-45 years in India – A multicentric matched case-control study’ was conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE). Though the study established that the COVID-19 vaccination has nothing to do with heart attacks, the lifestyle changes that came along with it certainly played a role.
Dr. Zakia Khan, Senior Consultant- Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan pointed out how the pandemic led to people being confined to their homes for an extended period which increased physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle. She also mentioned how COVID-19 leads to inflammation in the body, which in turn is a threat to heart health. What adds to the conundrum is the fact that India is the diabetes capital and accounts for 17% of the total number of diabetes patients in the world. All of this together has led to such a drastic increase in the numbers in the last five years.
Also Read: Think Fast: Immediate Steps To Take When A Person Is Having A Heart Attack
Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy
In times like these when the health risks are higher than ever before, it is crucial to adopt a better and healthier lifestyle. Here are certain things that you can do to keep yourself and your heart healthy.
- Adopt An Active Lifestyle: It is advised to stay active and exercise for at least 30 minutes per day. It can be anything from running, dancing, cycling, swimming, or any other cardio exercise.
- Avoid Smoking: Nicotine in cigarettes plays a huge role in destroying the lining cells of coronary arteries. This puts additional stress on the heart while pumping blood and can lead to high blood pressure. Hence, it is advised to avoid smoking in order to keep your heart healthy.
- Manage Stress: Symptoms of stress and anxiety include high blood pressure, which in turn can be damaging to your heart health. Hence, it is advised to keep your stress levels in check.
- Lower Cholesterol Levels: Elevated cholesterol levels contribute to the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It is required to change one’s lifestyle and dietary habits to lower the cholesterol levels which are directly linked to heart attack risk.
Apart from the above measures, it is extremely crucial to not ignore any symptoms that come up at times. Acidity, heartburn, and pain that feels like gastric issues are especially some of the symptoms that shouldn't be ignored. It is recommended to reach out to a medical professional in case you encounter any of that.