Gujarat is grappling with a surge of heart attacks, especially among the young population. Last three weeks, five teenagers under 20 have succumbed to unexpected heart failures.
Health experts believe there has been a significant increase in the number of heart attacks at a young age after the Covid phase. Doctors have identified a rise in heart attack cases because of blockages in blood flow, particularly in the small arteries and muscles connected to the heart’s aorta.
Among the teenagers who recently lost their lives in Gujarat are Tanisha Gandhi, a 17-year-old studying in class 12 in Navsari, Devansh Bhayani, a 16-year-old 10th standard student in Dhoraji and 20-year-old Parva Soni, an engineering student in Modasa.
Recent reports in the state reveal a staggering 57% rise in heart attack cases among people under 40 since 2020. These incidents often involve patients experiencing chest pain while performing routine activities, leading to emergency hospitalisations. Fortunately, doctors have been able to diagnose the blockages and save some lives through angioplasty examinations.
A high-ranking health department official reported that the UN Mehta Hospital in Ahmedabad, the only facility admitting emergency heart attack patients under 40 in the state, saw a significant increase in admissions for heart ailments. In 2020, hospitals admitted 578 patients, but in 2022, the number rose to 908, a 57% increase.
Other government, semi-government and private hospitals throughout the state have also observed similar alarming trends.
Dr Bhupesh R. Shah, a prominent cardiologist, highlights increased stress levels among children as a factor in heart problems. Additionally, reports reveal a rise in child obesity due to excessive mobile device usage and a decline in physical activities.
Furthermore, obesity, smoking and a lack of exercise remain the leading causes of heart attacks among adults.
The mechanism behind heart attacks involves blockages within the arteries that supply vital nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscles. Over time, continuous accumulation of fatty plaques narrows these passageways, leading to a condition known as atherosclerosis.
A ruptured plaque in a coronary artery can obstruct the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the heart, resulting in myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
From 2018 to May 2023, 4,610 individuals under 40 have experienced heart attacks in Gujarat. Considering this alarming trend, Dr Chirag Doshi, Director of UN Mehta Hospital, recommends mandatory cholesterol checkups, especially after 30.
He also advises immediate medical attention if people experience fatigue, shortness of breath, chest and abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, or unexplained dizziness.
Tragically, the medical community has also lost two heart experts due to heart attacks. Dr Gaurang Gandhi, actively involved in the Halt Heart Attacks campaign, passed away in sleep at 41.
Heart attacks have even struck everyday events: during a cricket match, exams or dancing. This alarming situation underscores the urgent need for effective measures to address the rising number of heart attack cases among young people in Gujarat.
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