Exercising deaths are rising due to underlying heart problems, doctors say

The death of actor-comedian Raju Srivastava, after being hospitalized for more than 40 days, has highlighted the high death rate caused by heart disease. On the day when World Heart Day is celebrated, the question still lingers in the mind about how to keep the heart healthy.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming an estimated 17.9 million lives each year.

Cardiovascular disease is a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and includes coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions.

More than four in five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and a third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under the age of 70.

Speaking of the same, here are some of the cardiologists who shared their insights on how to stay away from cardiovascular disease.

Dr Ajay Kaul – Chairman, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Hospital, Noida

Sudden cardiac death has become a worrying concern in the wake of COVID-19, although the direct cause of the association of sudden cardiac death with COVID remains to be proven. It is very important to have a healthy lifestyle that includes plenty of fluids and a well-balanced diet. It is suggested not to engage in strenuous exercise if you have post-COVID heart health issues.

Consult a healthcare practitioner before undertaking any strength training exercises and supplements. A person should consult a doctor before taking any random medications as it can create clotting problems.

It is always good to follow a healthy lifestyle such as avoiding smoking, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of fluids, not doing strenuous exercise which may harm your health. Exercises like yoga are extremely helpful along with proper diet which includes eating healthy foods with equal amount of nutritional benefits and abstaining from junk foods.

Moreover, gym trainers are not qualified or experienced enough to take care of your life while doing heavy exercises. Patients who suffer from serious heart diseases and perform heavy workouts need proper guidance.

The number of deaths during intense exercise is increasing due to underlying heart problems such as cardiomyopathy or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. There are some other conditions like congenital heart disease that go unnoticed and are otherwise completely asymptomatic.

They manifest themselves only under extreme exercise conditions. The increase in sudden cardiac death is also due to the increase in mental stress and a sedentary lifestyle which is followed nowadays by many young people and hinders their daily routine.

Dr Bimal Chhajer, Cardiologist, former consultant at AIIMS and founder of the SAAOL Heart Institute (Science and Art of Living)

Heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and arrhythmias have become very common these days, especially among the young and middle-aged generation. The reason why the younger generation suffers from these ailments is due to unhealthy lifestyle choices and stress. Stress related to job performance or stress related to creating a better lifestyle for themselves and their family often leads to adopting bad habits like smoking, drinking, and unhealthy eating habits. These habits then cause heart problems resulting in either a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Getting rid of this pressure or stress associated with one’s life through activities like yoga and meditation is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

Recently, we have also seen many celebrity cases of cardiac arrests from some of the renowned people like comedian Raju Shrivastava.

The comedian had suffered two cardiac arrests and although he survived the first, Raju could not survive the second cardiac arrest. So did Bigg Boss sensation Siddharth Shukla and famous Bollywood singer KK.

Due to bad conditions, KK performed without alternating current and with strong adrenaline and sweat, the singer went into cardiac arrest.

Dr. Kamal Gupta, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Fortis Escorts Hospital Faridabad

According to recent research, lack of adequate knowledge about the disease is considered one of the barriers to self-care in heart failure. There is a need to raise awareness that heart disease is often accompanied by subtle symptoms and therefore prompt diagnosis is key. There is a need to raise awareness about regular health checkups and a healthy lifestyle.

Prevention should be the cornerstone from an early age, especially in people with a family history of CVD. Some steps to take include eating a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and avoiding habits like smoking and drinking. It is also imperative to monitor other vital parameters such as blood pressure and blood sugar.

Today, people in their thirties and forties are increasingly prone to heart disease. Some of the risk factors include high stress levels, unhealthy lifestyles, family history of the disease, etc.

In many cases the blockages are silent and lead to disruptive functioning of the heart and over time can cause a sudden heart attack or even cardiac arrest. Non-detection or weak symptoms can worsen the result. This is why it becomes imperative to be aware of the symptoms of heart diseases.

Apart from the first signs such as chest pains, cold sweats and a feeling of heaviness in the chest, the symptoms can most often only appear in the event of a serious heart problem or stroke.

Some warning signs related to other heart problems include feeling dizzy, slow heartbeat or pacing, shortness of breath after climbing stairs, extreme fatigue, and palpitations which can signal cardiac arrhythmia. Early detection can ensure better results.

For people who develop complications from heart disease, there are various treatment options. Angioplasty is one such effective treatment for treating blockages in the coronary arteries, which can help improve quality of life. It helps restore blood flow and may lead to improved heart pumping over time.

Dr. Sandesh Prabhu, Consultant – Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Whitefield of Manipal Hospital, said: “We have seen an increase in the prevalence of hypertension during the pandemic, generally due to working from home. Not only in blood pressure, but also in cholesterol, diabetes, etc.

Padma Shri Dr. Praveen Chandra, Cardiologist, Chairman of Interventional Cardiology at Medanta

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. The blockage is usually due to a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the heart (coronary) arteries, he added. He insisted on the rapid treatment necessary in the event of a heart attack to prevent death and not to wait until the last hour.