Junk food, less physical activity behind rise in heart attacks among young

Several recent media reports have shown kids as young as 10yearolds dying due to heart attacks Increased consumption of junk foods and less physical activity is the main reason why school children are seeing a spike in heart attacks said doctors on MondayFast food culture is growing up in our country as a whole which I believe is the main reason behind such conditions Dr Neeraj Aggarwal a paediatric cardiologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital told IANSThe number of heart attacks in children is not very high But due to increased obesity and sedentary lifestyles the risk of suffering from a heart attack has spiked added Dr Amit Misri Associate Director Pediatrics Cardiology Paediatrics Medanta GurugramThe doctors lamented the drastic change in childrens lifestyles children prefer playing online games instead of engaging in physical activity They tend to take the elevator rather than the stairsThey consume food from outside instead of home food which is balanced Their food choices veer towards those which contain carbohydrates and fats all providing the child energy whichhe is not physically expendingSo all these lead to obesity which increases the risk and possible incidence of heart attacks Dr Misri saidDr Aggarwal said bad lifestyle is causing tiredness high blood pressure as well as diabetes among the kids all of which are again risk factors for heart attacksNumerous studies have documented the ill effects of the consumption of ultraprocessed foods which have a high sugarsalt contentIn addition the health experts also mentioned congenital problems in some kids which can lead to sudden cardiac death in patientsThese patients are prone to having arrhythmias which can lead to sudden cardiac arrest Of late we have seen that the children who were diagnosed with Covid also might have a small risk of blocked coronary arteries which over a period of time can cause cardiac death Dr Misri told IANSSecondary infections like Covid dengue and malaria all can increase the risk for heart failure in children as they cause damage to the heart muscle said Dr AggarwalApart from that there are some genetic or syndrome disorders Like the Marfan syndrome whereby the arteries of the body are dilated and they have a propensity to suddenly rupture which can be a cause of sudden cardiac deathSubstance abuse by teenagers the use of supplements when using the gym dieting and exercising to extremes can also cause heart attacksHow can we prevent thisA lifestyle change with proper exercise balanced food which is less on sugars carbohydrates and fats and more of protein intake of fresh fruits or homecooked is of utmost importance the health experts notedChildren should be encouraged to engage in physical activities for 30 minutes to one hour daily These include sports like swimming cycling and any sort of activity that increases the output or consumes more of energy than is firstDr Aggarwal said that besides parents schools and teachers can also play a significant role in helping children cut down on sedentary lifestyles and inculcate healthy habitsSchool plays a major role it can restrict junk food in its canteens Avoid junk food Even a healthylooking juice is loaded with sugars Foods high in carbohydrates maggi cold drinks shouldnt be allowed in school canteens he saidTeachers should also be educated and made aware of the harm of eating unhealthy foods who can then in turn educate children the doctor saidAlso Read Deadly heart attacks are 13 per cent more likely on a Monday says studyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever