The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Women, youth equally vulnerable to heart attacks Health & Lifestyle

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Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Women, youth equally vulnerable to heart attacks Health & Lifestyle

R. Sujatha

CHENNAI: When B. Krishnakumari, 47, walked into a private clinic in Royapuram complaining of chest pain the doctor advised an ECG. The readings were alarming, indicating that she had suffered a massive heart attack. She was advised to get admitted to Government Stanley Hospital.

There, she was given drugs to stabilise her condition. She will undergo a treadmill test before being discharged on Tuesday. Doctors will ask her to return to the hospital periodically to monitor her progress.

“I was careless in taking my BP medicines. I am a diabetic for nine years and have high BP for six years now,” Ms. Krishnakumari says.

In the adjacent ward, a 29-year-old smoker, with a family history of diabetes and BP is recuperating from a heart attack. R. Subramanian, head of the cardiology department, says the hospital, which caters to the relatively less affluent population of north Chennai is regularly getting patients with coronary artery disease.

“Until 20 years ago, rheumatic heart disease, caused by streptococcus bacteria was common. Now, in a month, I see 4-5 cases. But, while the more educated are careful about what they eat, the poor have taken to junk food. Heart attack had become common at the age of 20 and 30,” Dr. Subramanian says.

Profiling the youngsters who suffer heart attacks, he says they are generally smokers, with high lipid, cholesterol levels, a familial history of diabetes, very stressed and hypertensive.

Earlier, it was perceived that women were protected from heart attacks until menopause but now increasingly, younger women are also affected, he says.

“By 2020 India will lead in incidences of heart attack. Whoever has diabetes will be prone to heart attack. South Indians are genetically prone to heart blocks and heart attack,” says K. Harshavardhan, head, Cardiology department, SRM Medical University.

“India is spending 15 per cent of its health budget on treating heart attacks. This can be brought down by creating awareness.”

Pollution factor

As a cardiologist at the Government General Hospital from which he retired recently, he has operated on 20 auto drivers, he says.

“They smoke, drink alcohol, eat junk food and are stressed out. Pollution, particularly sulphur dioxide emission from vehicles and lack of exercise makes them susceptible to heart attacks.”

According to statistics on the website of World Heart Federation, which has designated the last Sunday in September as World Heart Day, half of the 17.5 million people who die of heart disease and stroke every year are women.

Women, unlike men, exhibit symptoms such as chest or stomach aches, nausea, breathlessness and unexplained tiredness. Very often, they remain undiagnosed for these symptoms.

Maintaining a healthy weight would reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes doctors point out.

To keep away coronary artery disease, it is important to test for lipids and cholesterol, they say.

A routine of 30-45 minutes of brisk exercise such as walking, drinking lots of water, eating plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and reducing salt intake can help keep away heart attacks.

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