The shocking death of Nagpur neurosurgeon Dr Chandrashekhar Pakhmode due to heart attack has again brought focus on hidden cardiac risk factors. Dr Pakhmode was just 53; he followed a healthy lifestyle and was generally disciplined with his routine.
He was also a fitness enthusiast. His ECG report, done just days before he breathed his last, didn’t reveal any signs of cardiac vulnerability.
He collapsed around 6 am on Wednesday. He was rushed to hospital in time, according to reports. Doctors made intense efforts to revive him, but he could not be saved.
His death has raised questions about hidden heart attack risks.
Health practitioners speak strongly about doing routine checks like blood sugar, cholesterol and ECG. They advocate a balanced diet and a fitness regime. But is that enough?
Many are asking what goes wrong despite normal test results?
First, let’s bust the myth that a clean ECG report is enough to rule out the risk of heart attack.
As an editorial published by a national daily notes, an ECG can miss early heart problems. It may appear normal in the early stages of a heart attack. It may not detect abnormal electrical signals. People with diabetes may have few symptoms and minimal ECG changes.
Heart attack symptoms can also occur with severely reduced blood flow but no muscle damage. This condition is called unstable angina and is often missed on a routine ECG. Blood tests for troponin protein are used to detect heart muscle damage.
Secondly, the issue of stress is severely undermined. It’s about time we acknowledge that doctors are susceptible to stress. Long working hours, lack of sleep and burnout are the silent killers.
Serious blockage in the left main artery or the Left Anterior Descending artery can be extremely dangerous because it affects a large part of the heart muscle and can lead to severe damage or death.
A complete blockage of the left main artery cuts off nearly 50 per cent of the oxygen-rich blood supply to a vital part of the heart muscle. This can fully damage the muscle. It can also disturb the heart’s electrical signals, causing arrhythmia. This can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, where the heart stops beating unexpectedly.
Stress and burnout cause chronic inflammation in the body. This weakens blood vessels in the heart and makes them prone to damage. The damaged vessel walls allow low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to enter and get trapped. This leads to faster formation of plaques and blockages.
Stress increases fight-or-flight hormones like adrenaline. These hormones raise heart rate and blood pressure. When this happens repeatedly over a long period, it damages the heart. Another stress hormone, cortisol, also raises blood pressure. It increases blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Short-term stress can also be harmful. If plaques are already present, a sudden adrenaline surge can rupture them. This can form a blood clot that blocks blood flow and triggers a heart attack. In people with existing heart disease, genetic risk or other illnesses, stress can worsen the condition. Stress eating or drinking increases all risk factors together.
A Lancet study, the editorial notes, showed people with high stress, depression or psychosocial issues were 2.5 times more likely to suffer a heart attack than those with low stress.
High stress is linked to high blood pressure. Young doctors and professionals need to monitor their blood pressure. High blood pressure combined with stress leads to excess stress hormones. These further damage artery walls.
Doctors often ignore warning signs like sudden fatigue, mild pain, nausea and light-headedness. They may dismiss these symptoms as exhaustion.
Heart attacks often occur in the early morning hours. Between 3 am and 6 am, the body releases cortisol and adrenaline to prepare for the day. These hormones increase heart rate and blood pressure. They raise the heart’s need for oxygen. Added stress during this time can worsen the effect. The hormones can constrict arteries, reduce oxygen flow and dislodge plaques. Blood platelets also clump faster in the morning. Dehydration and reduced clot-breaking ability increase clot risk.
Experienced doctors believe it’s desirable to take at least half an hour after waking up before engaging with phones or stressful issues.
In conclusion, a heart attack can strike even those who appear fit and have normal test reports.
Routine checks like ECGs shouldn’t lull us into a false sense of comfort that all is well with our bodies.
Chronic stress can quietly raise the risk. The death of Dr Pakhmode underlines the need to look beyond standard markers.
Also Read: Over 50 Per Cent Surge In Cardiac Drug Sales Mirrors India’s Alarming Rise In Heart Disease https://www.vibesofindia.com/over-50-per-cent-surge-in-cardiac-drug-sales-mirrors-indias-alarming-rise-in-heart-disease/
