More young people suffering heart attacks

‘More young people suffering heart attacks’




DH 11th Sept 06, New Delhi, PTI:

Changing lifestyles and increasing stress levels are taking a toll on the generation next in India, where a staggering 80 lakh of people below the age of 40 are suffering heart attacks every year.

This alarming data has raised concern among doctors, and one of the country’s top cardiologists, Upendera Kaul, has called for greater awareness among Indian youths on the impacts of work stress and lifestyle.

Dr Kaul, the director and head of the cardiology department of the Fortis group of hospitals, on Sunday pointed out that in sharp contrast to the West, as many as 40 per cent of those who get heart attacks in India are below the age of 40.

“In India nowadays more and more young people are becoming prone to heart diseases due to stress at the workplace, competition and urbanisation, which often results in less exercise and more smoking,” he said.

At least seven to eight crore people in India have heart diseases, according to very conservative estimates. Of these, 25 per cent or nearly two crore people actually suffer an attack that can be catastrophic, he said.

Dr Kaul said that an early recognition of symptoms and prompt treatment are extremely important for reducing the mortality rate due to heart attacks.

Most deaths from heart attacks occur within the first hour after the onset of chest pain, he said. The mortality rate can be as high as 20 to 25 per cent if the treatment is inadequate or improper, he warned.