Stressed 24-yr-old suffers heart attack

Mumbai: When Anirudh Singh (24) woke up with an uneasy feeling on March 5, he had no idea that it could be something more serious than an oncoming bout of fever. Not only did the discomfort continue until the evening, the event management executive also began feeling breathless and had a severe pain in the chest. By the time his friends rushed him to a nearby nursing home, Anirudh was on the verge of collapse. Diagnosis by doctors revealed that he had suffered an acute heart attack. 

    Anirudh's lifestyle shifted gears about two years ago when he moved to Mumbai to make a career in event management. 
    During busy periods—usually more than three days a week—he would go without proper sleep, surviving only on cups of coffee and energy drinks. "I even skipped meals many a time while trying to achieve my goals. And since my job is very demanding, I would hardly get time for anything else. It was a case of running around continuously, until the day I felt the chest pain," the Santa Cruz resident said. 
    After the diagnosis, the doctors in the nursing home he was taken to administered a clot-bursting injection. However, it did not make much difference to Anirudh's condition. 
    The nursing home then referred him to SevenHills Hospital in Andheri. 
PRESCRIPTION FOR A HEALTHY HEART 
Get a good night's sleep Stay slim Quit smoking Drink adequate waterAvoid excessive consumption of sweetened drinks, alcohol Eat fruits and vegetables Take up stress-busting activities like a hobby or yoga Young person's heart at greater risk 
Mumbai: According to Dr Saurin Patel, cardiologist at SevenHills Hospital in Andheri, stress had taken a toll on 24-year-old Anirudh Singh and he was critical when he was brought to the hospital. "We realized that he was suffering from acute myocardial infarction. His blood pressure and oxygen levels were low. We admitted him in the ICU and gave him intra-venous medication. When his condition improved a little, we conducted an angiography on him, which revealed a 90% blockage in the main artery which supplies blood to the front wall of the heart," Dr Patel said. 
    The doctors then performed a procedure to remove his clot. " We then conducted an angioplasty and put a stent," Dr Patel added. A young person suffers a more dangerous attack than an older person and there is greater damage to the heart. In an old person, calcium settles on cholesterol and theheart gets used to the condition. In younger people, even if the vessel has little cholesterol, it bleeds. As a result, arteries expand and the heart suddenly suffers an attack. 
    Dr N O Bansal, head of cardiology at JJ Hospital, says sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure and arterial blockages are major factors leading to a cardiac arrest. "We have all been seeing incidence of heart diseases going up in younger people," he said. After spending more than a week in the hospital, Anirudh was discharged on Friday. The doctors have advised him to take it easy for a few days. "I will be taking rest for a few days. After the next check-up, I will come to know the activities I can start again," Anirudh said. 
    (The name of the patient has been changed to protect his identity) 
HEALTHY HEART | KEEP THE BEAT 
WARNING SIGNS 
Slight palpitations 
Small shoots of pain in the chest 
Difficulty in breathing while walking or performing other physically exerting tasks 
DOS & DON'TS 
Do not assume that chest pain is because of gas/ acidity 
Always get an ECG done 
Consult a cardiologist as general physicians may not always be able to recognize a cardiac arrest 
STAY HEALTHY Avoid Stress | Take some time off. Sleep adequately Eat Right | Eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables a day Get Active | Even 30 minutes of activity can help Kick The Butt | Risk will be halved in a year if you do not consume tobacco products 
Watch Your Weight | Weight loss equals lower blood pressure 
Limit your alcohol intake