Nowadays, Indians are getting heart attacks at a much younger age. And the reason is their unhealthy heart. Every minute approx. 4 Indians in the age group 26-50 experience heart attacks. Indians are getting a heart attack 8-10 years earlier than the average age group worldwide. TV actor Siddharth Shukla and Standup Comedian Raju Srivastava also suffered cardiac arrest at a young age and succumbed to death.

Every time when we experience mild chest pain, we think of it as acidic pain and take medicine and let it reside. And if the pain doesn’t go after that also, we ignore it and carry on with our work. But did you know, it could have been a heart attack? While it is true that the chances of heart attacks increase with increasing age but now, even younger age groups are no more far from this. Heart attacks are more common after 45 in men and after 55 in women. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is very much prevalent in younger ages with over 50% of CAD mortality occurring in individuals aged less than 50 years. Prevalence of acute MI (Heart Attack) as high as 25 to 40% has been reported in the young, that is patients below 40 years of age. According to the Indian Heart Association, 50% of all heart attacks in Indians occur under 50 years of age and 25% of all heart attacks in Indians under the age of 40.

What makes Indians more vulnerable to heart attacks?

• Dyslipidemia – Abnormal amount of fat in the blood and inherent insulin resistance increases the risk of early diabetes. 

• Excessive smoking and Consumption of tobacco products cause hypertension. 

• Genetic reasons along with the family history of hypercholesterolemia together become the reason for premature heart diseases.

• Today’s modern lifestyle is making Indians more vulnerable to heart attacks at a younger age. 

• Mental and physical stress with rising competition causes insomnia and unhealthy living adds to the risk factors.

Signs of early heart disease

• Discomfort in the chest, 
• Pain in the chest
• Chest tightness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Nausea
• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Pain in stomach
• Pain spreading to the arm
• Feeling of exhaustion
• Loud snoring like gasping and choking
• A long-lasting cough especially with a white or pink mucus
• Sweating for no reason
• Swelling in the legs or ankles

Precautionary measures

• We should not ignore warning signs and symptoms just because one is too young to have heart disease or get a heart attack. 
• Try to avoid Atherosclerosis which is the deposition of fat in the blood vessels by following a moderately active lifestyle (adequate physical exercise and a healthy diet), and staying away from smoking and alcohol.
• Having proper nutrition – Adequate carbohydrates, more proteins and fibers, fewer oils, lots of fruits and vegetables, and consuming foods low in saturated fats.