World Heart Day: Heart attacks double in last 5 years in J&K
Stent procedure conducted at hospitals doubled in last two years: Cardiologists, say; Keeping BP, diabetes in control, cholesterol optimal; quitting smoking, daily exercise use of vegetables, healthy weight must to avoid risk of heart attack
Srinagar, Sep 29 : Like rest of the World, heart attacks and strokes are accountable for nearly half of all non-communicable disease deaths in J&K.
Cardiologist working in different tertiary health care Institutes in J&K while talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that the number of heart attacks in Jammu and Kashmir have almost doubled in last five years and the stent procedure conducted at hospitals have almost doubled in J&K in just last two years.
They said that usually we were witnessing more heart attacks in winters in J&K but there is a difference now as we are witnessing the same trend in summer and now heart attack cases among youths have increased as well.
Dr Irfan, a Cardiologist at GMC Srinagar, told KNO that the message of observing heart day is use heart for every heart because heart is the only organ in the body which you can hear and feel besides first and last sign of life. “We have taken care of the underprivileged people living in different countries besides heart for you and we have to quit bad habits,” he said. “Air pollution, rapid urbanization, involvement of youth in drugs, sedentary life style, physical inactivity, use of fast foods, and smoking besides post Covid-19 stress due to unemployment and other things, increase in prevalence of hypertension and diabetes are major reasons behind increase in heart attacks.”
He said that people must keep BP, diabetes in control, cholesterol at optimal level, leave sedentary life, quit smoking and physical, less psycho social stress, use of vegetables, health weight, and regular exercise can help in avoiding risk of heart attacks.
The doctor said that he has never seen any person belonging to Gujjar community below 40 years of age who has suffered heart attack as they remain busy their activities and are living in pure environment, he said, adding that every day 10-15 heart attack patient are coming to SMHS.
Cardiologists said that the common heart attack symptoms include Chest pain that may feel like pressure, tightness, pain, squeezing or aching Pain or discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly, Cold sweat, Fatigue, Heartburn or indigestion, Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness, Nausea and shortness of breath—(KNO)
