Heart attacks on the rise among 30-40-year-olds; diabetes, hypertension are contributing factors ( BY Padam Shri Dr KK SETHI )

 BENGALURU: Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Bengaluru is India’s largest heart hospital with 1,200 beds and 75 full-time cardiologists. Over the past few years, the cardiologists here have been noticing a worrying trend: the number of heart-attack cases among 30-40-year-olds is on the rise. 

The prestigious government-run heart institute has studied about 2,000 such cases in the last two years. “As much as 40% of them did not have any conventional risk factors. This is what makes us worried,” said Dr C N Manjunath, the institute director. 

“All large metropolitan cities are facing this problem,” said Dr K K Sethi, chairman at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. High stress in urban areas coupled with large numbers of young population consuming alcohol is aggravating the problem. “Substance abuse is an important cause. I have seen people in their 18-20s falling victims due to use of drugs like cocaine,” he said. 

Factors such as diabe
“All large metropolitan cities are facing this problem,” said Dr K K Sethi, chairman at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute. High stress in urban areas coupled with large numbers of young population consuming alcohol is aggravating the problem. “Substance abuse is an important cause. I have seen people in their 18-20s falling victims due to use of drugs like cocaine,” he said. 

Factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity or hyper-activity usually cause heart diseases. ..