Never too young for a heart attack

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How different could a 23-year-old Mumbaikar be? So I thought, before I met Pramod, an animator by profession. Stuck in a sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance, and in between all that, too much grumble, uniformly punctuated by geeky gadget talks. Of course, dreams to change the world. But the one thing, which he would have loved to change, but can't do much about now, is the stamp of a heart attack at 23.

"I was in the Vashi local, returning home. Must have been after midnight. It was my 23rd birthday. We had a big party. Food, booze, we had it all. But in the train, I felt a slight pain in my chest. I thought it's just exhaustion. I had mixed drinks, maybe that was causing a havoc. But the pain did not subside at home also. It wasn't a throbbing pain. There was constant discomfort, and then vomiting. The next day, I went with my mom to a hospital, thinking it's indigestion. But then the doctor dropped the bomb."

The very diagnosis of a heart attack is shocking. But that at 23? Unheard of? Well, today the demographics have changed. Blame the urban stress, the occasional puffs, sedentary lifestyle, no exercises, growing appetite for junk food. Heart attacks in the early 20s are not rare anymore. In fact, Dr Ashish Contractor, Senior Cardiologist at Asian Heart Institute, regularly sees cardiac patients in their 20s. "Some 3-4 a month at least. The most shocking case, even to the medical fraternity, was that of a 18-year-old having a cardiac arrest in Mumbai itself. She was getting treated in another city hospital."

And doctors say, the younger you have a heart attack, the lesser your lifespan. Even if the blockage is totally taken care of by a bypass or an angio, the loss of precious heart muscle is irreparable. So even though a couple of months after his surgery, his doctor says, productivity, and lifespan, will sure be cut short. "My whole family has been scared since then. But life has changed. No more erratic work shifts. I eat all meals in time and without fail, brisk walk for 30 minutes."

But why wait for a life threatening episode like that? Being young does not guarantee good health. You may be sleek but do you have the agility and flexibility to run for the door when you're sunk in your couch? Or the spring in your step to walk up a flight of stairs without panting? Well, the reason can be, your heart is not the same age as you are. "The process of blockage of arteries, starts as soon as you are born. But the speed at which that happens, is directly proportional to the food you eat, the lifestyle you lead, amount of exercise and your genetic makeup. So you may be just 30 years old, but your heart can be much older," says Dr B P Goyal, Director, Cardiac Dept, Bombay Hospital.

Also, vegetarians to some extent are predisposed to heart conditions. Don't be surprised. Lack of Vitamin B-12 is a big factor. By definition, B-12 is found largely in animal products, like eggs, oysters, fish, lamb etc. So vegetarians are bound to have a B-12 deficiency. Precisely why doctors have always advised me to take supplements every 6 months for 15 days.

INDIANS AT GREATER RISK

5 million Indians are already suffering from heart diseases. Spicy food, high in oil and salt diet, lack of exercise, and the low intake of fresh fruits and fiber. In fact, a recent study done by the Public Health Foundation reveals that oil intake in urban households has increased by whopping 50% from the 90s to now. Fat intake rose from 42 gms a day to 52 gms in the last 12 years. No wonder, it's the single largest cause of death in the country.

But as Dr Goyal points out, "There are also indications that our arteries are narrower. The Thrifty famine theory is also showing its effect. The shortage of food in the past has genetically programmed Indians to store fat more efficiently than other races."

TEST YOUR HEART AGE

Take out a couple of hours, visit any good hospital with heart checkup facilities and the heart forecaster will reveal your age after getting your blood pressure and your cholesterol ratio. With a few simple questions, the Heart Age Forecast will estimate the current condition of your heart. These checkups will also give you an insight into how healthy your heart is and also the effect that your lifestyle has on your body. For example, if there are some minor blockages, the Treadmill Test can predict if that will lead to a heart attack in the next couple of months.

It's World Heart Day tomorrow. Pledge for a healthy heart.