Rising cardiac arrest, a sign for young India to focus on right approach to life

Cases of cardiac arrest have seen a spurt in recent times but the bigger question is the ability to diagnose and prevent such cases The surge in rising cases of cardiac and noncommunicable ailments has perplexed corporate India as well as the larger medical fraternityWhen Swiggy CEO Rohit Kapoor criticised the hustle culture advocating for a healthier approach to life many youngsters followed him on social media But when it comes to practice GenZ and millennials are more likely to follow oddhealth practices than follow preventive measuresNew and rising medical epidemicRising noncommunicable diseases could be one explanation for these deaths The World Health Organization states that noncommunicable diseases NCDs such as heart disease stroke cancer diabetes and chronic lung disease as collectively responsible for 74 per cent of deaths globally These ailments are attributed as the most challenging lifestyle diseases to tackle in the 21st centuryOf the noncommunicable diseases cardiovascular diseases CVDs have seen a rampant increase from 257 million cases in 1990 to 64 million in 2023 Itrsquos also a baffling trend because data from the World Heart Federation found India accounts for 15 per cent of all diabetes cases worldwideAlso 4050 per cent of heartrelated ailments are of those below the age of 55 Given the gravity of the situation one would expect society and young people to adopt healthy practices Unfortunately a fastpaced lifestyle digital practices and blurring personal and professional lives do not lead to a conducive environment for healthy livingRising cortisols and burnout syndromeThe constant pressure to excel and achieve personal and professional goals succumbing to peer group and societal pressures and unhealthy eating habits lead to chronic stress and anxiety This phenomenon contributes to additional cortisol production which in turn aggravates the underlying cardiovascular conditions and NCDsWHO data as early as 2018 highlights how rising cortisol manifests into not only higher NCD but also endocrine and neurological symptoms Clinical studies and recent cases point out that high cortisol could cause even loss of DNAFocus on overall wellbeingThe general perception is that lsquosince I am young I am immune to silent killers such as Diabetes or CVDsrsquo Unfortunately noncommunicable diseases develop silently over the years And poor lifestyle choices practiced in the 20s and 30s set the stage for a health crisis in the future Young professionals who are caught in the whirlwind of career building often neglect basic health and work practicesA marked improvement is witnessed in awareness of stress and the role of sugar in diet But even those who recognize risks associated with junk food are unable to make the right dietary decisions Sugar is often a hidden component in many products including foods marketed as ldquohealthyrdquo For instance smoothies energy bars flavoured yoghurt and even some salads contain excessive amounts of sugar which may exacerbate NCD and stressThe normalisation of high levels of stress is dangerous Over time chronic stress leads to elevated cortisol levels high blood pressure and inflammation all of which contribute to the development of heart disease Mental wellbeing is also equally critical as physical health yet it remains a low priority for many young peopleBlaming societal pressures or corporate setup may not serve justice rather one needs to acknowledge the clear problem A more pragmatic yardstick incorporating physiological and psychological parameters needs to be developed Young workers clearly need to change their perception of their own health from reactive to preventiveThe belief that youth is a shield against serious health conditions is not only misguided but dangerous Silent killers like cancer cardiovascular disease and diabetes donrsquot discriminate by age they thrive on neglectDr Manpreet Sethi is paediatric endocrinologist at Max Hospitals Delhi NCR She can be contacted at drmanpreetsethigmailcomThis 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