Increasing Heart Ailments

PSM News /

Heart ailments can be termed as a group of diseases that affects the heart. Some of the heart ailments include Coronary artery disease, High blood pressure, Congestive heart failure, Cardiac arrest, Stroke, etc. Roughly, our country today is now seeing more than 2 million heart attack victims annually. Over the last few years, the average age of patients suffering from heart diseases has declined drastically in India. Some year earlier, cardiac diseases were associated with a certain age-group of over 50-60 years.

 

Now-a-days, people around 40 years are mostly the patients suffering from heart problems. The primarily reason which marked the prevalence of heart ailments in the younger age-group is their lifestyle and most of the time they are unaware of the fact that they are at risk of developing heart ailments and they simply fail to take proper precautions that could have saved their lives.

 

As per the World Health Organization report, there has a terrific 300 percent rise in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases from 1970 to 2000.

 

 

Why are younger people getting heart attacks?

 

There may be many reasons to it. Though some of the major drivers considered are irregular working and sleeping hours, increased smoking incidence, consumption of tobacco, increased alcohol consumption, stress, lack of regular exercise and yoga, excessive consumption of junk and street foods.

 

 

Diagnostic tests one should know about

 

Some of the tests that can help you assess your heart ailments risk:

 

Electrocardiogram

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a painless, non-invasive, standard and rapid test to measure electrical activity of the heart.

 

Coronary calcium scan

Coronary calcium scan is a low-radiation Computer Tomography (CT scan) that shows the amount of calcium built-up in coronary arteries. Increased calcium levels might cause cardiovascular diseases.

 

C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test

Elevated C-reactive protein or CRP level in blood can show whether a person needs precautionary measures.

 

BNP test

An Increased level of BNP indicates stiffened heart muscle. Stiffened heart muscle is one of the leading cause of heart strokes.

 

Symptoms of heart ailment

  • Chest discomfort
  • Irregular or fast heartbeats
  • Nausea, Indigestion, Heartburn
  • Pain in arm, back, neck and jaw
  • Lasting cough
  • Swelling in legs, feet, ankles
  • Excessive Sweating

 

Possible health interventions one should always keep in mind:

  • Maintain Healthy Weight
  • Adequate sleeping hours
  • Healthy diet, avoid alcohol and tobacco consumption