Heart attack among youngsters on rise: experts

In India, around 30 million people are suffering from coronary artery disease. The country will soon have the highest number of cardiovascular disease cases in the world. Dr H K Bali, chairman, cardiac sciences and dean academics at Livasa Hospital, Mohali, while addressing a press conference today said, “India tops the world in heart attacks among men above 35 years of age. Cardiovascular diseases are going to be the largest cause of death and disability in India by the next decade. The average age of people with heart ailments is coming down and we are getting heart attack patients as young as 25 years, which is a worrying trend.”

Advertisement

Dr Diptiman Kaul, cardiologist, stated that, “In India, heart ailments have replaced communicable diseases as the biggest killer. According to a recent data, approximately 30 per cent of the urban population and 15 per cent of the population living in rural areas suffer from high blood pressure and heart attacks. As the risk factors of heart ailments increase, so does the mortality rate.”

Experts also count lifestyle changes as one of the reasons for youth becoming susceptible to heart ailments. “Youngsters are suffering from coronary artery disease, owing to their unhealthy lifestyle and if this continues, then the future looks even more dangerous,” informed Dr Bali.