Doctors outline risk factors related to heart attacks among young men

Cricketer Avi Barotrsquos untimely death at the age of 29 came as a shock to many mdash as a wicket keeperbatter who was part of Saurashtrarsquos Ranji Trophywinning team in the 201920 season he seemed extremely fit And yet he succumbed to a cardiac arrest a condition thatrsquos typically associated with older ages and unhealthy lifestyles His death comes close on the heels of actor Sidharth Shuklarsquos death also attributed to a heart attack at 40Avi Barot PicGetty Images right Sidharth Shukla PicInstagramAs per recent research 20 per cent of heart attacks occur in individuals aged 40 years or younger this number has been rising by two percent every year over the last decade Dr Ruchit Shah an interventional cardiologist at Bycullarsquos Masina Hospital shares that sedentary lifestyles highstress levels and the use of tobacco and recreational drugs have led to increasingly younger patients presenting with heart attacks ldquoWe recently had a 17yearold boy who suffered a major heart attack because of cocaine use In individuals between 20 and 30 years smoking is a leading cause of cardiac arrestsrdquoDr Rajeev Bhagwat Dr Haresh Mehta and Dr Ruchit ShahDr Haresh Mehta an interventional cardiologist at SL Raheja Hospital also observes that anabolic steroids and the musclebuilding drugs that boost metabolism can provoke heart attacks ldquoWe have seen sportspeople collapsing on the field and in many cases they could not be revivedrdquo Such heart attacks are typically caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy a condition where a part of the heart muscle becomes so thick that it obstructs the flow of blood from and to the heart ldquoThis condition is linked to generic traits which become aggravated by extensive physical trainingrdquo Dr Shah adds However it can be detected with early screening which is why those undertaking strenuous exercises such as running triathlons or heavy gym workouts must undergo an annual cardiologist consultation including an ECG and a 2D echocardiographyDr Rajeev Bhagwat a senior interventional cardiologist at Nanavati Hospital says that rising instances of diabetes and hypertension comorbidities in younger age groups which are often stressinduced can be linked to more heart attacks occurring at earlier ages ldquoMany youngsters follow a work hardparty hard mantra which involves sleeping late and waking up early to hit the gym In the absence of adequate sleep six to eight hours the body undergoes certain hormonal changes mdash an excess of stress hormones is produced which accumulate in the bodyrdquo he explains He also points out that the incidence of heart attacks is highest between 5 am and 11 am when high adrenaline levels affect the bloodrsquos coagulative properties ldquoYou cannot ignore risk factors such as family history If anyone in your immediate family has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest or has a history of heart disease you must consult a doctor before undertaking a strenuous fitness routinerdquo he assertsFinally while some amount of exercise mdash 3045 minutes five days a week mdash is beneficial strenuous or lengthy workouts may cause too much strain on your heart muscle And so these may contribute to premature cardiac arrests Dr Shah concludes