Heart disease has become more common since the start of COVID-19, and one worrying trend is that it occurs in younger individuals. This rise is due to many factors such as the direct effects of the virus on heart health, lifestyle changes during lockdowns and the long-term stresses of living in a pandemic. CTVS; Senior Consultant and Chief Cardiac Surgeon SMSIMSR sheds light on reasons for the increase in heart disease cases and how to deal with it.
Why do young people get heart attacks so often?
Many contributing factors have increased heart attack rates among young people. Important are lifestyle changes such as sedentary lifestyle, diet transition, increased stress levels. Moreover, genetic elements like family history and early-onset diabetes or hypertension also play major roles.
We have heard about those who fall dead out of nowhere. Can’t you feel anything before a heart attack/cardiac arrest?
For example, 20-30% of cardiac arrests occur without any prior symptoms at all because there might be conditions like diabetes that can impair sensation or undiagnosed congenital heart diseases due to abnormalities of arteries supplying blood to the heart.
Some fitness enthusiasts have met similar ends. How can one determine if their hearts are healthy?
Regular check-ups are important for continued good health especially after forty years old Accordingly, this should start as soon as someone attains his/her twentieth birthday given that it’s predicted that India will be leading in cardiovascular ailments by 2030.
Does it have any relation to vaccines?
After COVID-19 pandemic, sudden death from Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) became more frequent and complex. Therefore there is no concrete evidence showing a definite connection between these incidents including COVID-19 or vaccination.
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Are valve problems something one is born with?
Although some valve diseases occur at birth, most valves’ problem in India are acquired and they are usually due to conditions such as rheumatic valvular heart disease and viral myocarditis.
What precautions can people take?
To prevent heart diseases, the following measures are important; early diagnosis and treatment of acute respiratory infections, avoid overcrowding, prenatal detection of congenital heart valve defect. In case of a congenital disorder that is established but incompatible with life, termination of pregnancy may be considered.
How safe is stent? Does it expire?
Stent implantation is generally safe for both bare metal (BMS) and drug-eluting stents (DES), depending on the situation. They do not have an expiry date but should be monitored by a healthcare practitioner.
Which basic tests should people in their 30s, 40s and 50s undergo?
Basic health check-up at age range between 30-50 years required full blood count, lipid profile, thyroid profile, liver function test (LFT), renal function test (RFT), vitamin B12 levels, homocysteine levels EKG chest X-ray annual radiography echocardiogram treadmill testing.
Does having high cholesterol mean you’ll eventually get a heart attack?
Yes because high cholesterol levels increase one’s chances of premature atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries leading to future cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction.
Are there any heart diseases that are caused by regular drugs?
Some medications, particularly anticancer medications, may result in myocardial injury and the dose must be based on cardiac performance. Moreover, diet pills, heroin use, tobacco and narcotics can also cause some heart problems.
Have there been increased cases of heart diseases attributed to COVID-19 vaccines?
There has been an increase in cardiovascular event rates after the COVID-19 pandemic although no direct causation has been established.
What technological advancements have you witnessed as a Cardiac Surgeon?
These include minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS), endoscopic cardiac surgery (ETS), robotic cardiac surgery and video-assisted cardiac/thoracic surgery.
