 "Why are heart attacks among the young rising? Does it have a connection to indigestion?")
Sidharth Shukla. Shreyas Talpade. Vikas Sethi. What do these three men have in common? All three suffered heart-related conditions — while Sidharth and Shreyas had a heart attack, Vikas suffered a cardiac arrest.
And it’s not just the three of them. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), namely heart attacks and cardiac arrests, have escalated in India from 25.7 million cases in 1990 to 64 million in 2023, with the World Health Organization reporting that India accounts for one-fifth of CVD deaths worldwide, especially in the younger population. In the US too, it is reported that one in five heart attack patients are younger than 40 years of age.
While stress and lifestyle have often been cited as the reason for the increasing burden of CVDs, there may be a warning sign that many ignore — indigestion.
In fact, shortly after Vikas Sethi’s demise on Sunday (September 8), his wife, Jhanvi, revealed that the 48-year-old actor had experienced severe digestion problems before he passed away.
The question is then: do cardiac arrests have any connection to indigestion?
Vikas Sethi’s case
On Sunday, September 8, Vikas Sethi, who is a well-known actor in the country, and made famous for his roles in TV serials such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhie Bahu Thi, Kasautii Zindagi Kay, Kahi Toh Hoga, passed away from a massive cardiac arrest while at home.
His wife, Jhanvi, told the media that the couple were in Maharashtra’s Nashik, attending a family event, when he suddenly complained of nausea and stomach upset. “After we reached my mother’s house in Nashik, he had vomiting and loose motions. He didn’t want to go to the hospital, so we asked the doctor to come home. When I went to wake him up around 6 am (on Sunday), he was no more. The doctor there told us he passed away last night in his sleep due to a cardiac arrest,” she was quoted as saying.
Possible link between indigestion and heart attacks
So, is it possible that indigestion — either acid reflux or heartburn — could be a warning sign of a cardiac arrest?
Some experts believe that when the blood flow to the heart is disrupted, the body produces stress responses that affect the digestive health and result in diarrhoea and episodes of vomiting.
Medical research also shows that having too much acid in your stomach and oesophagus could be one possible reason for your erratic heart rhythm. While the exact reason for this has not been determined, experts believe that the vagus nerve, which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system — a network of nerves that helps regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion — could be the reason behind it.
Nicholas J Shaheen, MD, the chief of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology in the department of medicine at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, explains, “Sending impulses to so many organs presents opportunity for error. Sometimes there’s cross-talk on the vagus nerve where one organ gets stimulated and another responds.”
He further explains that the acid that enters the oesophagus might stimulate the vagus nerve, causing it to mistakenly send an impulse to the heart that changes its rhythm.
Difference between heart attack and heartburn
Many doctors note that often people mistake heart attacks to be heartburns and don’t seek help, which can be fatal. But how does one differentiate heartburn, which actually has nothing to do with the heart, from a heart attack?
Most doctors agree that if the pain in the chest is persistent, then the person should seek medical help, as chances are higher that he/she is actually having a heart attack. Additionally, the type of chest pain one incurs during a heart attack is different from that of a heartburn.
A person suffering a heart attack will experience crushing pain or pressure in the centre of the chest. Moreover, there will be pain or tightness that spreads to the back, neck, jaw, shoulder or arms. People experiencing a heart attack will also suffer from severe shortness of breath. In some cases, a heart attack will also cause sweats, dizziness. But these conditions are not experienced when having heart burn.
Growing burden of heart diseases in the young
The demise of Vikas Sethi also puts the spotlight on the issue of an increasing number of young people dying due to heart attacks. An October 2023 report revealed that heart attacks were the main reason for 45 per cent deaths in the 40-69 year age group.
And it’s a trend worldwide. An increasing number of younger people are suffering heart attacks. But why is this happening?
Dr Deepak Bhatt, director of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, believes that there are a number of reasons for this. He notes that many young and otherwise healthy people choose not to get their get their cholesterol or blood pressure routinely checked, leaving them vulnerable.
A sedentary lifestyle, the rising obesity epidemic and increasing stress in life could be additional reasons why younger people are more prone to heart attacks. Modern diets filled with fast foods, highly processes items and sugary drinks also contribute to this problem.
The rising use of tobacco as well as other drugs can lead to chronic stress, which can negatively impact heart health in several ways.
Another aspect is the genetic risk factor. While a family history of CVDs and excessive stress is a pivotal determinant of CVD risk, identifying one’s genetic predisposition to heart ailments can aid in early diagnosis and risk mitigation.
However, some medical experts note that better diagnostics, better reporting and more awareness among the young is a reason for this trend to be blossoming.
Either way, it’s concerning for the public and time that people start taking more care of themselves and their loved ones.
With inputs from agencies
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