New Delhi: First TV actor Sidharth Shukla and now Kannada star Puneeth Rajkumar. One 40, the other 46. Both successful actors, tall, handsome and fitness enthusiasts who used to be regular at the gym. Both died due to a cardiac arrest following a workout.
The uncanny similarities in the deaths of both have raised many questions besides leaving their fans in shock. How can a seemingly healthy and fit person in his 40s fall prey to a heart attack? Does it happen to celebs only, owing to their demanding and hectic lifestyle or are mere mortals vulnerable too?
Talking about the phenomenon where people, who look apparently fit but have a heart attack, despite being young, Dr Viveka Kumar, Principal Director and Chief of Cath Labs, Max Healthcare, told ZeeNews, “What we must understand is there is a difference between being fit and being healthy. Healthy means not just physical fitness, but mental fitness too – stress under control, a decent lifestyle and adequate sleep.”
Here are some tips he shared:
– Not every person who looks fit is healthy. Physical fitness has to be coupled with mental health, adequate sleep.
– Smoking is BAD for the heart. So is tobacco consumption in ANY form.
– Exercising is essential. One should walk more than 10,000 steps in 24 hours.
– Again, over-exercising is BAD. If you are walking more than 30,000 steps a day, continuously, it can be harmful. Exercise regularly, but in moderation.
– If you are walking less than 5,000 steps a day, you are leading a sedentary lifestyle and you are as much in danger of heart diseases as a smoker, even if you don’t smoke! If you smoke on top of that, do the math!!
– Adequate amount of sleep is very important – which is between 7 and 8 hours. Sleeping less than 6 hours and more than 10 hours, regularly, are both bad for health.
– Avoid excessive sugar and salt as they will lead to/aggravate diabetes and high blood pressure, which are directly linked to heart health.
– Yoga and meditation are important as stress is the biggest killer. Financial stress is one of the biggest kinds of stress. When it comes to celebs, even though they are physically fit, often fame and popularity bring in a huge amount of stress.
– Once you have crossed 40, regular health checkups are a must, even if you are seemingly or actually okay. Early detection and medication, preventive check-ups… all can save lives.
– Yes, men are more prone to heart diseases than women as hormones provide women certain protection. However, this is no reason for anyone, man or woman, to take one’s heart health lightly!
