“Prevent and Attack Heart Attack in Young in Covid Times”. On the occasion of World Heart Day

“Prevent and Attack Heart Attack in Young in Covid Times”. On the occasion of World Heart Day. 

Dr. H.K. Chopra said that 17.9 Million people die each year from CVDs, an estimated 32% of all deaths worldwide. Heart Attack is rising rather steeply in our country especially in young in 20s & 30s particularly in covid times as the covid virus is prothrombotic, proinflammatory and proimmonogenic.   To a very large extent, heart attack is self-inflicted by our faulty lifestyle, which we adopt right from childhood.  Genetics definitely play a role but it is too little.  The prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease in adults in India in the urban population is 14 percent, while in the rural population it is 8 percent.   One should not have heart attack in the prime of his/her life when he/she is important not only to the family, but also to the community, society and nation.  In fact, “we are the cause and we are the cure” of this malady of premature heart attack in young by optimizing our lifestyle we have, which should be in accordance with the laws of nature.  A healthy heart is an expression of our own perception, thoughts, interpretations and choice making.  Thus, a Healthy Heart is not a matter of chance, but it is a matter of choice.  Enhancing awareness about prevention and timely treatment of heart attack is the only solution to reducing the rising menace of heart attack in our country. Women are fortunate to have lower prevalence of coronary artery disease before the age of 45 i.e. menopause. After menopause, the prevalence of CAD is same as men. Over 25 Lac people die of Heart Attack in our country every year. Out of these, 16 lac die within an hour of Heart Attack before even the medical aid is available.

The theme of World Heart Day  this year is “Use Heart for every heart” by enhancing awareness on prevention and timely treatment”. World Heart Day celebration initiated by the World Heart Federation almost 25 years ago and it is observed in more than 90 countries in the world. Healthy Heart as defined by WHO is physical, mental, social, emotional, psychological and environmental wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease. Dr. Chopra emphasized that  the awareness of preventive strategies and timely treatment strategies may help raise the menace of premature heart attack in young. 

“21 Points Programme for Attacking Heart Attack”

1. Tips for Prevention of Heart Attack

1. Stress: No, Manage stress effectively, learn to cope by enhancing your endurance and resilience. Be Calm, have an attitude of gratitude. Manage anger and live longer.

Manage stress so that our immunity status is robust. 

2. Sedentary lifestyle: No, Be active and exercise daily 30 Minutes every day to prevent thrombosis especially in covid times. Heart friendly exercises are helpful.

3. Self Hydration: adequately. 

4. Smoking:  No Smoking, no tobacco in any form. 

5. Saturated fat: No, avoid saturated fat , Do not eat junk food/ fried  food. 

Eat more fruits, vegetables & nuts.

6. Salt: No or low,  excess salt to be avoided to control the blood pressure.

7. Sleep: Adequate sleep 7-8 hours essential for perfect heart health.  

8. Self   knowledge on  control of hypertension, Diabetes, obesity and cholesterol fitness.

9. Self Practice  all 8 limbs of yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asna, pranayama, Pratihara, Dharna, Dayana and Samadhi. 

10. Self Consumption of immune booster like zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D. 

11. Stubborn attitude of obesity: No 

12. Superfluous alcohol Intake, No.

13. Self Education for preventive health checkups on a regular basis after the age of 20.

14. Self understanding of avoiding processed food. 

15. Self Awareness on the  need of the vaccination protocol as per guidelines of ICMR, Ministry of Health, GOI & WHO.

Optimizing heart, mind  and consciousness connection is the need of the hour to have a healthy heart.

2. Tips for Attacking Heart Attack. 

16. Early recognition of symptoms of Heart Attack: Severe Chest Pain with radiation to right or left arm, back or in the jaw, heaviness in chest, choking, suffocation, unexplained sweating, breathlessness, dizziness or extreme fatigue with sinking feeling. 

17. Call for an emergency ambulance in your vicinity. 

18. Take Tablet Aspirin to be chewed, Atorvastatin or Rosvuastatin 40 mg. 

19. Urgent ECG, instantaneous Trop I testing to confirm the heart attack.

20. Clot Bluster such as tenecteplase elaxim  IV 30-50 mg IV bolus over 5 sec, at the site of heart attack, at home, in the ambulance or in emergency under supervision of cardiologist connected to heart command center. 

21. Shift immediately to the hospital with 24 hours service of Cath Lab with loading dose of antiplatelet drug Ticagrelor followed by early coronary angiography, angioplasty and stenting.

By Dr. H.K. Chopra