Fit & Proper: Prevent early onset of heart disease

Sunil Sharma, a 28-year-old executive with a multinational company, usually ignored the occasional pain in the chest or the twinge in the arm or shoulders he would have after a meal. But when a customary pain killer failed to curb the shooting pain, he decided to visit a doctor. His condition had started to deteriorate and he collapsed the moment he walked into the hospital's emergency ward.

The pain in Sharma's left arm was triggered by a 100 per cent blockage in one of his coronary arteries. He had one attack as soon as he walked into the hospital and three more after he was admitted into the emergency. Doctors had to revive him with quick electric shocks. Once he stabilised, he was shifted to the catheterisation lab where he again suffered an attack. Sharma's was not an isolated case.

The increasing stress of modern life has exposed even younger people to the risk of heart diseases. Excessive stress and long working hours coupled with erratic sleep patterns cause inflammation and increase the risk of heart disease. Smoking and a sedentary lifestyle further accelerate the risk symptoms in people in the age group of 20 to 30 years.

Besides smoking and stress, alcohol consumption, a job that requires long hours of sitting, inappropriate diet, lack of exercise and obesity are other factors, all of which can be controlled. The ones that cannot be controlled include a person's age, gender, race, ethnicity and family history. These aspects cannot be changed, but knowing about them helps in your health assessment.

Symptoms to watch out for

• Pain, pressure, a squeezing sensation or discomfort in the centre of the chest
• Stabbing chest pain
• Weakness and dizziness
• Radiating pain to the neck, jaw, chest, shoulders and upper back
• General discomfort, with loss of appetite
• Pounding heartbeat or palpitation

I come across numerous young patients who initially take no interest in reversing heart disease. They feel if they have a problem, they will go to a hospital, get treated and, if necessary, follow the doctor's advice and make lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, this casual approach can have tragic consequences.

QUICK TIPS

• Keep moving: Try to be physically active.
  

 

Control your weight: The longer the waist line, the shorter the lifeline and heart line. Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measure of body fat calculated by dividing your weight in kilogrammes by the square of your height in metres. An ideal BMI is less than 25.
 

Stay calm: Stress raises the risk of cardiac disease. Try yoga, breathing exercises and meditation. These are good stress busters.
 

Learn to say 'no': Quit smoking. Put an end to passive smoking and the next time a colleague ask, "Do you mind if I smoke?" or "Will you join me (for a smoke)?", say "NO".

 

Eat right: Try to control your urge to eat junk food. Include healthy options like whole wheat bread, brown rice, green vegetables, fish, poultry and lean meat in your daily diet. In office you can have small and frequent healthy meals through the day.
 

Exercise daily: Regular physical exercise, especially walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing and skiing, reduces blood pressure, improves cardiac output and , is good for the well being of the heart.

K K Aggarwal
Senior Consultant, cardiology, Moolchand Heart Institute, Moolchand Medcity, Delhi