The curious case of heart failure/ attack in seemingly fit people

Heart fails to operate when the biological system inside fails to function properly. There are several factors which pose a threat to the normal functioning of the body, one of which is high cholesterol levels. Due to the high levels of cholesterol the blood vessels get blocked as a result of which the flow of blood is disturbed and hence the heart health deteriorates and ultimately ceases to function.

But why do we see heart issues in people who seem to be fit and healthy and are even young?

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Recently we have lost so many young artists to heart disease. These artists were visibly fit and showed no signs of ailments even immediately before collapsing to heart attack.

The premature deaths of these popular figures raised so many questions on their lifestyle, the nature of their work and their daily schedule. These artists who were in their 40s-50s had no prior cases of health condition.

Few months back, singer KK had succumbed to a heart attack just hours after giving a memorable performance at a show in Kolkata. Sidharth Shukla, a very popular TV actor, also died of cardiac arrest.

It is very wrong to assume that heart disease comes to those who are older. This might be a reason why young people are not attentive towards their health. It is a very wrong assumption that a young body has all the organs in order and the functioning of organs deteriorates only after a certain age.

The truth that explains this myth is that a human body's functioning, though dependent on age, also depends on lifestyle habits. The body of a 20 year old person is as vulnerable as that of a 60 year old person if proper lifestyle habits are not followed properly. As per a 2019 report by Harvard Health, 80% of the heart attacks which happen due to atherosclerotic blockages in coronary arteries are seen in young adults.

Proper exercising, maintaining weight, eating a balanced meal and leading a stress free life altogether contribute towards good health and hence a good heart.

Of the many plausible explanations for this, a major one is unhealthy lifestyle. What seems from outside is usually not the truth. A person may be looking healthy and fit to you, but you never know what sort of ailment is developing inside him or her; which draws our attention towards the importance of timely medical checkups.

The US CDC says, high rates of obesity and high blood pressure are the reasons why the incidence of heart disease in people as young as 35-40 years is so common these days.

The Harvard Health report states that about 4% of heart attacks in young adults are triggered by inborn abnormalities of the coronary artery anatomy.

It adds that 5% of these cases can be attributed to blood clots. These clots, the report says, originate elsewhere and are carried in the bloodstream to otherwise normal coronary arteries, where subsequently they block the artery and impair the heart.

"And in another 5%, various disorders of the blood clotting system increase the risk of clot formation throughout the circulatory system, including in coronary arteries," it says.

Other reasons, it says can be drug abuse, smoking and other unhealthy habits. These factors account for the majority of heart disease cases as seen from various data.

Overweight is a major factor that hinders the heart's functioning ability. Several research studies have established a link between obesity and the development of cardiovascular diseases and have found that obesity contributes to the development of this serious condition independent of other factors that contribute to this condition. This very much explains that just like other risk factors, obesity and overweight should also be regulated and brought down to minimise the risks associated with heart disease.

Waist circumference is a potential risk marker for heart health. So, if you are only watching your Body Mass Index or the BMI it's time you watch your waist too.

As per the 2021 report by the American Heart Association, 39% to 49% of the world’s population (2.8–3.5 billion people) are overweight or obesity. The report also states that of the 4 million deaths in 2015 caused due to obesity, heart disease related death accounted for more than two-thirds.

According to an ICMR study 2015, the prevalence rate of obesity and central obesity varies from 11.8% to 31.3% and 16.9%-36.3% respectively in our country. In India, abdominal obesity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the report adds.

Physical inactivity is a serious risk factor for heart diseases and its impact is almost the same as that of smoking and high blood pressure. 35% of the heart diseases occur due to physical inactivity.

Due to lifestyle and ease in doing chores and businesses, many people do not bother about doing any physical exercise. Several adults do not engage in even low impact activities on a daily basis.

Remaining physically active keeps the heart running properly. The American Heart Association recommends 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise thrice a week for good heart health. Adults should engage themselves in atleast 30 minutes of moderate activity daily. Moderate activities can be walking, climbing stairs, gardening; it can also include regular household chores like mopping, and cleaning also.

Youngsters, especially, should be careful about their heart health. An impaired heart in its early stage will definitely show certain symptoms; it is therefore vital to know the symptoms in order to get timely help:

• When you find it difficult to keep up with normal physical activities
• When you find yourself more tired than others of your age
• When you run out of breath more often than others
• When you often feel dizzied
• When you experience palpitations more often
• When you feel like fainting more regularly
• When you experience never-ending pain at certain body parts