August 24,2024
New Delhi: Mohsin Khan (32), best known for his role in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, in a recent interview shared that he had a mild heart attack last year. It was due to fatty liver.
“While it might seem surprising, incidences of heart attack among younger individuals is becoming increasingly common. Traditionally, heart attacks were associated with older age groups, but recent trends show a worrying rise in cardiovascular events among people in their 30s and 40s,” says Dr Niranjan Hiremath, Adjunct Professor and Senior Consultant Cardiovascular and Aortic Surgeon, and Surgical Lead of the Apollo Aortic Program.
“Fatty liver ho gaya tha, toh last year I had a mild heart attack. Aur bahut jyada badh gaya tha. I was admitted for sometime. Phir ilaaj wagera hua. 2-3 hospital change kiye humne. But it is now controlled,” Mohsin said during a chat with a portal.
‘NON ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE (NAFLD) IS UNRELATED TO ALCOHOL INTAKE’
“Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterised by fat accumulation in the liver unrelated to alcohol consumption. It’s often linked to poor dietary choices, lack of physical activity, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, which includes conditions such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance and abnormal cholesterol levels,” explains Dr Niranjan Hiremath.
‘NAFLD IS OFTEN SILENT, WITH MANY UNAWARE OF IT UNTIL IT ADVANCES TO SERIOUS STAGES’
Doctors inform that the symptoms of NAFLD often go unnoticed with most individuals not knowing that they have it until it progresses to severe stages. Dr Niranjan Hiremath says, “People in their 30s are increasingly experiencing heart attacks, and fatty liver disease can indeed be a contributing factor. NAFLD plays a critical role in this. The liver, when overloaded with fat, can lead to metabolic disturbances such as elevated cholesterol levels and insulin resistance. These disturbances are key contributors to the development of atherosclerosis, a condition where plaque builds up in the arteries, eventually leading to heart attacks. The condition is often silent, with many people unaware of it until it advances to more serious stages. However, its impact on cardiovascular health is profound. The metabolic derangements caused by fatty liver disease create an environment conducive to heart disease, making younger individuals, who may otherwise appear healthy, susceptible to heart attacks.”
‘INDIANS ARE GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED TO DEVELOPING VISCERAL OBESITY’
“Indians, due to their genetic makeup, are more prone to developing visceral obesity. This means that even if an individual is only slightly overweight, they may have more fat deposited in their visceral organs compared to under the skin. This difference in fat distribution is one reason why heart disease is more common in India compared to western countries, highlighting the link between fatty liver, heart disease, and blockages,” says Dr Manish Bansal, Senior Director, Clinical & Preventive Cardiology, Cardiac Care, Medanta, Gurgaon.
‘FATTY LIVER ITSELF DOESN’T DIRECTLY CAUSE HEART ATTACKS’
“Fatty liver itself doesn’t directly cause heart attacks. While fatty liver, particularly in its early stages (grade one or even grade two), is quite common and generally not linked to heart attacks, certain underlying conditions can lead to both. These include obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. However, a fatty liver in isolation, especially in its early stages, has no direct relation to heart attacks,” says Dr Ravi Prakash, Senior Consultant, Cardiology, PSRI Hospital, Delhi.
Source: Healthworld