How can parents battle sedentary life to ensure better heart health for kids

We know that regular physical activity helps maintain a healthy heart But do we overlook the importance of heart health when we are young Cumulative accelerometerbased sedentary time from childhood through young adulthood with progressive left ventricular remodelling in British youth a 13year longitudinal study mdash presented this month at the European Society of Cardiologyrsquos ESC Congress 2023 in Amsterdam mdash by lead study author Dr Andrew Agbaje of the University of Eastern Finland showed that inactivity in kids can increase the risk of heart diseases at later stages in lifeRegular physical activity is vital to maintain a healthy heartData of this study was collected from Children of the 90s one of the largest global studies measuring lifestyle included 766 children 55 per cent girls and 45 per cent boys and researched across the ages between 11 and 24 It showed that a lack of physical activity for nearly six hours a day at age 11 increased to eight hours a day in adolescence and later to nine hours a day in adulthood The study associated sedentary lifestyles between the ages 11 to 24 years with an increase in the left ventricular mass in the 1724 age groupThe worrying findings pose the question are Indian children at risk too What can parents do to battle sedentary lifestyles and ensure better heart health for their children is not compromised Dr Sylvia DrsquoSouza consultant paediatric cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road explains the importance of physical activity for the heart ldquoRegular exercise helps strengthen the heart allowing it to pump blood more efficiently and effectively Without this exercise the heart muscle weakens over time making it less capable of performing its crucial functionrdquoInactivity heightens heart disease risk factors like obesity and hypertension fostering future heart problemsDr Sylvia DrsquoSouza adds that inactivity can lead to unhealthy weight gain which puts additional strain on the heart while excess body weight increases the risk of developing conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels at an early age These factors contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases later in life What are the dangers of increased ventricular mass Dr Vaibhav Dedhia Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre explains ldquoAn increase in left ventricular LV mass known as left ventricular hypertrophy LVH is a response of the heart to various stressors typically an increased workload due to conditions like hypertension high blood pressure valvular heart disease or certain genetic factorsrdquoDr DrsquoSouza and Dr Dedhia note that LVH associated with high blood pressure can also lead to impaired cardiac function increased risk of arrhythmias reduced blood supply risk of heart attacks and strokes heart failure reduced exercise tolerance etc Sharing a guideline for the duration of exercise required Dr Nihar Parekh founder of SecondOpinion Online Consultation for Children SOCC and cofounder of Cheers Child Care shares ldquoAt 11 kids require one to two hours of mixed moderatevigorous activity daily Ages 15 and 17 demand similar commitment while 24yearolds should aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise weeklyrdquoDr Fazal Nabi Dr Nihar Parekh and Dr Shreepal JainNoting an increasing number of cases of excessive weight gain in adolescents due to sedentary lifestyles since the COVID19 pandemic Dr Shreepal Jain consultant paediatric and foetal cardiologist at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children reasons that an increase in online classes amplified screen time and easy availability of junk food are the culprits With more importance given to competitive examinations exercise for the body and mind can get overlooked or children may not have enough energy to engage in physical exercise in the midst of a tiring school dayldquoAs a result young patients have been coming with complaints of breathlessness on exertion mainly due to the deconditioning effect Heart diseases are increasingly being noted in younger patients in their 30s However the process begins much earlier in childhood due to a sedentary lifestyle and high intake of processed and junk food The lower age limit for heart problems is likely to be reduced further in the futurerdquo says Dr JainDr Fazal Nabi director of paediatrics at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre adds ldquoIn the pediatric age group the indirect effects of a sedentary lifestyle like palpitations and chest pain are seen Good adolescent health is the foundation for better future health poor diet stressful lifestyle excess junk food including coloured drinks and coloured foods are some other factors that put heart health at risk in later liferdquo Dr Nabi recommends a balanced diet of proportionate fats carbohydrates and proteins an active lifestyle no stress with no added pressure on kids and regular exercise as a must for good heart healthSupport better heart health from an early age1 Engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day2 Reduce screen time3 Include a variety of vegetables fruits whole grains proteins and healthy fats in your daily diet and reduce limit sugary and processed foods4 Maintain good sleep hygiene for your age5 Do not smoke and avoid secondhand smoke as it contributes to the narrowing of blood vessels high blood pressure and decreased oxygen levels in the body6 Practise good oral hygieneInputs from Dr Vaibhav Dedhia and Sylvia DrsquoSouzaCase Study 1Rajesh Shah name changed 17 engineering student complained of severe abdominal pain Investigations showed thrombotic infarcts in the small intestine and left kidney The 2D Echo examination showed a large clot in the left ventricle There was dysfunctional muscle supplied by the LAD artery Due to a unhealthy lifestyle this young boy had suffered a massive anterior wall MI anterior myocardial infarction Dr Vaibhav DedhiaCase Study 2Academic pressure kept Sahil Khanna name changed 13 student away from physical activities and led to binge eating At 95 kgs he began feeling breathless and was detected with coronary artery disease Intervention along with regular exercise and proper diet helped him lose 20 kgs of weight and better heart health Dr Sylvia DrsquoSouza consultant paediatric cardiologist