Covid increases risk of heart attack among young people

New Delhi: Covid-19 infection is being associated with increased incidence of heart attack. According to Prof Rajesh Vijayvergiya from the Cardiology Department, PGI, Covid infection adversely affects the heart. It decreases its pump capacity and causes acute blockage of coronary arteries, leading to heart attack.

Vijayvergiya has been quoted by the sources as saying, “Due to the pandemic, there was a surge in cardiac risk factors such as smoking, increased body weight, physical and mental stress, and discontinuation of cardiac drugs, which leads to increase in heart attacks.”

Incorporating a couple of healthy lifestyle-related changes can prevent cardiac diseases to a great extent.

Prof Vijayvergiya has recommended regular physical activity, reducing salt intake, regularising sleep, minimising psychological stress and regular meditation, to lower cardiac risk significantly.

Prof Vijayvergiya has pointed out certain cardiac risk factors including smoking, strenuous physical exercise or excess of mental stress and a family history of heart disease which can also lead to acute cardiac events such as death or heart attack in a seemingly healthy individual.

A research has also found that during the corona epidemic in the last two years, more cases of heart attack were reported among young people, especially those between the age of thirty and forty. The main causes behind it were unemployment, staying awake at night, violent indoor video games, distance from loved ones, smoking and use of e-cigarette.

World Heart Day is observed on 29th September every year to raise public awareness about the prevention of heart diseases and their global impact.

According to the World Health Organization, heart disorders are the main cause of death worldwide, due to which approximately 1.8 million people are losing their lives every year. Low income, mental stress, overeating, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking are major reasons for the increase in heart diseases.

Experts have also rejected the impression that the risk of heart diseases also increases with increasing age. Now risk is involved irrespective of age and gender.