Heart Attacks Among Teens A Worrying Trend

“We are dealing with 3-4 young patients around 25-35 years of age coming to our emergencies every month. Advanced treatments are available now, but as a preventive measure, we strongly recommend wider cardiac screening in high schools, colleges, and even among athletes. Screening should include a review of risk factors, blood pressure, heart-related symptoms, family history, and stress-related issues,” Dr Munna Das, cardiology, adult and electrophysiology, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital, Howrah told News18.

For Dr Anand Kumar Pandey, director, of interventional cardiology at Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, the trend is “concerning” and “coronary artery disease is the most common issue”.

“Additionally, abnormal enlargement of cardiac muscle cells, leading to heart failure, irregular heart rhythms, angina, and increased heart attack risk, is a severe condition observed among the young population,” he was quoted as saying, adding that ignorance towards a healthy lifestyle is a significant cause along with other risk factors including poor diet, obesity, and physical inactivity.

What can be done?

• Know your family history as this may help in predicting and thus preventing such events.
• Wider cardiac screening in high schools and colleges.
• Every school teacher or physical trainer, gym trainer, or school sports teacher has updated basic life support training also known as BLS training.
• Teachers or physical trainers must also know about using AED (automated external defibrillator), an automated instrument which recognises abnormal, life-threatening heart rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.
• Getting a medical fitness certificate from a doctor or a paediatrician is very important, for any sports activity.
• Parents must inform the doctor about the family history of early sudden cardiac death (before the age of 50).