There is an alarming increase in mortality in young people under the age of 35 due to cardiac arrest.
Several doctors have revealed that this is often due to hidden heart defects or abnormalities caused by smoking, obesity and lack of exercise.
Other cardiologists estimate that at least four cases of mortality out of 10 are youngsters.
“Cardiac arrest normally occurs due to coronary artery disease or heart failure, conditions that are uncommon in people this young, but lately, smoking and obesity have become major risk factors for cardiac arrests,” said Dr. Mohammed Khalil, a senior cardiology consultant.
“We have noticed that around 50 percent of youngsters we examine suffer from obesity, which leads to diabetes, hypertension and high levels of cholesterol, all major risk factors for heart attacks.”
“Indeed, cases of sudden death in youngsters are on the increase. Many of these youngsters die before reaching hospital. It is important to spread awareness on this issue and educate people on the importance of decreasing tobacco consumption, taking up regular exercise and eating a proper diet to reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease,” he added.
Reem, an emergency physician, said that there have been a number of cases where young patients died after suffering a heart attack in their sleep.
“Bad lifestyle is weighing heavily on the heart and is the root cause of all diseases,” she said. “Although death cannot be avoided, precautions can be taken, such as regular screening and a total body check-up, which patients should undergo from the age of 21. Screenings should become more frequent if abnormalities are found.”
According to the survey, the most prominent risk factor for heart attacks is tobacco consumption since most people suffering from heart attacks have been found to be smokers.
To highlight the risks associated with smoking, several anti-smoking campaigns have been launched.
Afshan Aziz - Arab News
