What are the warning signs of cardiac arrest, why youngsters die of sudden heart attack

By Lokmat English Desk | Published: March 12, 2023 11:25 AM2023-03-12T11:25:13+5:302023-03-12T11:25:13+5:30

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The shocking death of actor Satish Kaushik , better due to a heart attack has brought the focus back on the alarming rise in the instances of the fatal condition among Indians especially youngsters.

Kaushik complainied of breathing issues and uneasiness in his friend's farmhouse. He was declared dead on arrival at the hospital where he was taken for treatment.

The reasons attributed to the spike in heart ailments include sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and consumption of alcohol, lack of proper sleep, and poor nutritional choices. Underlying diseases such as hypertension and diabetes—sometimes undiagnosed—increase the risks manifold.

Dr Haresh G Mehta, a consultant interventional cardiologist with S L Raheja Hospital in Mumbai, explained that a heart attack, called myocardial infarction medically, occurs when blood supply to the heart is blocked, usually due to a clot.

Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack—the former happens when the heart stops beating for a while or completely. A person having a heart attack is still talking and breathing (and in many cases not even aware of the event) but such a medical episode increases the risk for going into cardiac arrest.

Dr Mehta also said that shortness of breath, chest pain that often extends to the hand and neck, and uneasiness usually precede a heart attack.

Dr G Ramesh, senior consultant interventional cardiologist with Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad, said that although there is no definitive age to experience a heart attack, the kind of lifestyle choices you make, your diet plans, your workout routines and how you manage your stress levels can influence your probability of undergoing such an emergency.“The most important cause of heart attack in the young is smoking. Other reasons are sedentary lifestyle, eating junk food, early onset of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension, in addition to stress,” he said.

The major symptoms of a heart attack areChest pain or discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. You may also break out into a cold sweat.Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.Shortness of breath. This often comes along with chest discomfort, but shortness of breath also can happen before chest discomfort.Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting. Women are more likely to have these other symptoms.

Several health conditions, your lifestyle, and your age and family history can increase your risk for heart disease and heart attack. These are called risk factors.

On the other hand, if a person has an active infection like viral, flu, influenza, the risk factor increases further. This virus has spread a lot since last one-two months. It is caused by the H2N2 virus, and in the presence of this virus, even common viruses can cause large outbreaks

, 'Overweight, sugar, high blood pressure, family history, covid recovery etc can be major risk factors for heart disease.

Sometimes, a plaque can rupture and form a clot that blocks blood flow. A lack of blood flow can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle.