Bengaluru, a city brimming with youthful energy, is known for its entrepreneurial spirit. The city is home to a significant number of professionals, with an estimated 1.5 million global capability centre employees. However, beneath this vibrant surface lies a worrying trend: a surge in stress levels, obesity, and heart attacks among young adults in Bengaluru. The phenomenon which once was confined to older age groups, now threatens much younger people, even those below the age of 40.
What are the causes of obesity among young working professionals?
The health challenges encountered by young individuals arise not only from genetic factors but also from the changes in their lifestyle. Prolonged work hours, reliance on processed food, and limited physical activity contribute to a harmful mix. Traditional, nutritious, and balanced meals are being replaced by fast food and sedentary habits driven by technology are replacing outdoor activities. A survey report released this month revealed that around 70% of surveyed individuals in Bengaluru spend at least 6 hours in a day sitting. Add to it the long commute hours, the traffic, and stress and it will explain the rising trend of ‘old age diseases’ among people in their 20s, 30, and 40s.
Obesity, Stress, and Heart Attacks
Obesity disrupts the body's ability to regulate blood sugar and cholesterol, contributing to the buildup of plaque in arteries, narrowing them and increasing the risk of blood clots.Additionally, excess weight forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body, leading to high blood pressure and enlarged heart muscles. Increase in stress levels usually mimic the negative effects of obesity. Chronic stress leads to the sustained release of the stress hormone called cortisol, that paves way to heart attacks. Stress often disrupts sleep, further elevating cortisol levels and hindering the body's natural repair mechanisms, increasing the risk of cardiovascular issues.
Reducing obesity, stress and the risk of heart attacks
It's essential to replace processed foods with various kinds of whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruits. Adopt an active lifestyle by engaging in different activities for at least 30 minutes most days. Stress levels rise and drop throughout the day and one needs to master the way to tackle it effectively. Practice meditation, breathing exercises and prioritize 7-8 hours of quality sleep.
Blood tests indicate potential challenges with blood sugar, cholesterol, and inflammation, and ECGs and scans evaluate heart health and blood flow. Together with regular check-ups, these thorough assessments allow for prompt interventions via medication, lifestyle changes, or medical procedures While early detection and intervention are important.
what should one do in the event they do experience a cardiac event?
The answer is to educate yourself to recognize the symptoms and not confuse them with common conditions like gas or indigestion. The symptoms vary and may present a little differently in men and women. Men may experience pain or tightness in chest, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, jaw, neck or back pain. Women may not always get chest pain and can show varying symptoms which are easier to confuse with other diseases, such as fainting, indigestion, extreme fatigue, pain or pressure in lower chest or upper abdomen, nausea etc.
If one spots these symptoms in themselves or others around them, it is important to get to a hospital in the shortest possible time. The sooner they get medical help, the more chances a doctor
will have to save their life.
Treatment modalities for heart attacks
Treatment modalities can depend on the severity of the case. You might receive clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolysis), balloon angioplasty and stent placement, surgery or a combination of treatments. With advancements in medical technology, minimally invasive procedures like angioplasty are now conducted using advanced solutions like Drug Eluting Balloon, metal-less angioplasty using bioresorbable or dissolving stents. These stents gradually dissolve within the heart artery, reducing the need for additional procedures and lowering certain risks linked to traditional metal stents.
Individuals need to work closely with their doctors to find the best and most personalized course of action for their unique medical conditions and needs. It is important to remember that early detection and prompt treatment are paramount in ensuring optimal health outcomes.
Dr. BC Srinivas, Senior Consultant – Cardiology, Apollo Hospital, Bengaluru