‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ star Rajiv Kapoor breathed his last on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. He passed away due to cardiac arrest at the age of 58. His sudden death yet again has brought the spotlight back on heart disease.
Heart disease is a blanket term for any disease that affects the heart. Heart diseases include hundreds of conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, enlarged valve disease, and arrhythmias.
Dr. Praveen Chandra, who is a leading Indian Cardiologist and Chairman of Interventional Cardiology at Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon, says, “Those people who have high blood pressure and diabetes have increased chances of heart attacks. Individuals with high cholesterol levels need to take special care of themselves. They should get their cholesterol and blood pressure checked at regular intervals, and should keep their diabetes and blood pressure under control”
What are the common symptoms of heart attack that need to be taken under consideration?
Dr. Chandra explains, “The most common symptoms of heart attack are severe pain in the middle of the chest along with sweating and breathlessness, or extreme uneasiness. When you have any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor.
“Many a time, during a heart attack, pain shifts from the middle of the chest and goes to the left hand first and can go to the right hand also. But this is an extreme situation. Most people have symptoms of chest pain while walking, or having breathlessness while climbing the stairs. These are the signs of heart problems”, says Dr. Chandra.
What are the factors that put somebody at risk for a heart attack?
“High cholesterol level, uncontrolled BP, stress, extreme emotional situation and extreme cold are some of the factors that put somebody at risk for a heart attack”, says Dr. Chandra.
We have come across many cases of cardiac arrests after recovering or during Covid-19. How are they related?
Dr. Chandra explains, “Covid-19 has lead to increased chances of heart attacks as it increases the clotting of the blood, that increases the likelihood of a heart attack.”
Tips For a healthy lifestyle
- Modify your diet to a more heart-friendly one: Attempting to shift your daily diet to a healthier one will help you control the cholesterol level.
- Cholesterol levels can be aggravated by saturated fats found primarily in red meat and full-fat dairy products. Cholesterol levels can be controlled by limiting or moderating saturated fats.
- Limit the consumption of alcohol and smoking as these habits de-establishes the heart condition.
