Bollywood actor and filmmaker Satish Kaushik passed away early Thursday morning due to a heart attack. According to Anupam Kher (Bollywood actor), Kaushik was at a friend's home in Delhi when he complained of uneasiness. He felt uneasy and he told driver to take him to the hospital and on the way he suffered a heart attack around 1 am.

Heart attacks are becoming a more common cause of death these days. Anyone can suffer from a heart attack, from 20-year-old young adults to old people. There is no longer an age barrier for this disease, which makes it more scary and obvious for people to start taking their health seriously.

Facts:

• Now 1 in 5 heart attack patients are younger than 40 years of age.

• Between the years 2000-2016, the heart attack rate increased by 2% every year in this young age group.

• Within India, the rates of CVD vary markedly with highest in states of Kerala, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

• India accounts for approximately 60 per cent of the world's heart disease burden.

What is Heart attack?

A heart attack is a medical emergency. It occurs when the blood supply to the heart is significantly reduced or blocked, without blood, tissue loses oxygen and dies. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries.

A heart attack is also called a myocardial infarction. Immediate treatment is needed for a heart attack to prevent death.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of a heart attack may vary from person to person. Some people have mild symptoms, some have severe symptoms, and some people have no symptoms.

Common symptoms of heart attack:

• Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching
• Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly
• Fatigue
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath

Women may experience unusual symptoms such as brief or sharp pain felt in the neck, arm or back. Some heart attacks strike suddenly. Sometimes, the first sign of a heart attack is sudden cardiac arrest.

Risk factors:

Age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and stress are the risk factors that have increased the risk of heart attacks.

Prevention:

• Follow a healthy lifestyle
• Manage other health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
• Take medications as directed