The sudden and unexpected cessation of all heart activity is known as sudden cardiac death. Both breathing and blood flow immediately cease. In an instant, the individual loses consciousness and passes away. A sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is not the same as sudden cardiac death. SCA is the abrupt cessation of cardiac activity brought on by an erratic heartbeat. Quick and appropriate medical attention can help people survive.
It is uncommon for seemingly healthy adults under 35 to die suddenly from heart arrest. Males are more likely than females to experience it. Teenagers and young adults may die suddenly from heart conditions that are not diagnosed, such as a genetic heart disease. Undiagnosed cardiac conditions can result in sudden cardiac death in young people participating in sports or other physical activities. However, even without any hard physical activity, sudden cardiac death can happen.
Discuss with your doctor if you or your child are susceptible to sudden cardiac death. Inquire about possible ways to reduce the risk.
Older adults, especially those with heart disease, account for the majority of sudden cardiac deaths. However, these days, the most common cause of death among young athletes is sudden cardiac arrest. Although estimates vary, some reports indicate that each year, between one in 50,000 and one in 100,000 young athletes pass away due to sudden cardiac death.
Sudden cardiac death is often caused by abnormalities in the electrical signaling of the heart. The lower heart chambers contract quickly and uncoordinatedly during an abnormally rapid heartbeat. The body cannot receive sufficient blood from the heart. Ventricular fibrillation is the name for this potentially fatal kind of irregular heartbeat. The risk of sudden cardiac death can be raised by anything that puts stress on the heart or harms cardiac tissue.
Why are Heart Attacks Increasing in Young Adults?
It's a concerning trend that the number of heart attacks among young people has increased in recent years. Over the past five years, heart disease has become more common in India, where it remains a major cause of death. Our fast-paced lifestyle and changing habits are to blame for the increase in cardiac arrests and related problems. Heart attacks are now thought to affect every other young person between the ages of 30 and 40. Previously, it was thought that such conditions only affect the elderly. This health risk is exacerbated by a number of factors, such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, drinking, stress, and sleeplessness. Although the modern lifestyle has resulted in many amazing advancements, it has also increased stress levels, poor dietary choices, and sedentary behavior. Today's youth are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking, binge drinking, not exercising, and overindulging in processed, high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.Reasons Behind Increase in Heart Attacks Among Young Adults
Following are the risk factors that enhance the risk of heart attacks among young people:- Diabetes: Compared to those without diabetes, those with diabetes have a higher risk of heart disease. Additionally, their likelihood of high blood pressure and high cholesterol are increased, which increases the risk of a heart attack.
- High Blood Pressure: Data from more than 12,000 youths, aged 12 to 19, was gathered by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 2001 and 2016. Between 2013 and 2016, they discovered that over one in seven youth had high or elevated blood pressure. Obesity and diabetes are risk factors that young people with high blood pressure are more likely to carry into adulthood. Their risk of heart disease and stroke is elevated as a result of this cascading effect.
- Obesity: According to a 2018 study, young individuals as well as those with higher BMIs were more likely to have poorer heart health. This was particularly true for high blood pressure and the predictor of sudden cardiac death, left ventricular mass index. The 2018 study demonstrated a positive correlation between increased blood pressure and each unit of BMI. Additionally, it was linked to a larger and thicker left ventricle, one of the lower heart chambers in charge of pumping blood throughout the body.
- Smoking: When compared to non-smokers, the risk of dying young from heart disease and stroke is tripled for those who smoke. This risk is highest for those who begin smoking before the age of 15. Based on the data, study participants who began smoking between the ages of 10 and 14 were more likely to die from heart disease or stroke before their time. The information also revealed that a person's increased risk of dying young was decreased by about 90% if they stopped smoking by the age of 40.
- Substance Misuse: Substances like tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine, and cannabis can increase risk of developing heart disease even at a young age.
- Genetic Play: Some people inherit genetic heart problems from their parents. For instance, around 1 in 250 people have familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic disorder that increases a person’s chances of developing coronary heart disease at a younger age. Other heart conditions a person may be born with include familial cardiomyopathies, familial arrhythmias, irregular heart rhythms, marfan syndrome, and sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS).
