VIJAYAWADA: On March 19, a 15-year-old girl who had just appeared for the SSC public examination in Korapadu village of Kadapa district suffered sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed. A year ago, a 17-year-old boy was reported to have died of a heart attack in Palnadu district. All these cases in the state ultimately boil down to her one question, which reflects the poor cardiovascular health of Andhra Pradesh’s youth.

A 2012 report by the Asian Indian Coronary Artery Disease Research Foundation revealed alarming trends in coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated risk factors, particularly early death.

Studies have found that the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCD) is alarmingly high, accounting for 10% of overall mortality in the population, and occurring five to eight years earlier than in Western populations. Rural areas bear a disproportionate burden, with CAD emerging as the leading cause of death, accounting for 32% of all deaths. These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive prevention strategies targeting CAD and its risk factors, especially in young people, to reduce the devastating consequences of premature death. Dr Vikram Kudumula, Consultant Interventional Pediatric Cardiologist, in an interview with TNIE highlighted that the incidence of heart attacks in children is on the rise, raising concerns among parents, medical professionals and the community.

He noted that these cases occur more often in athletes, highlighting congenital heart disease and sudden arrhythmia death syndrome (SADS) as the main causes, and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention to save lives. Emphasized gender.

“While heart attacks are generally associated with older adults, several factors increase the risk of sudden death in children. Congenital heart conditions such as severe aortic stenosis, aortic coarctation, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy The defects can block blood flow to the body and brain or cause irregular heart rhythms, making the child more susceptible to heart attacks. SADS, a genetic problem like long QT syndrome, can also cause “During physical exertion or mental stress, such as exam stress, it can cause irregular heartbeats and sudden death,” he said.

Dr Vikram added that lifestyle factors such as junk food consumption, stress and lack of sleep are contributing to the increased incidence of heart attacks in young people, and the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the risk. , said it increases the chance of blood clots. He asserted that timely intervention and appropriate treatment are critical to addressing this growing health concern.

Concluding that the rising incidence of SCD among young people needs to be addressed, experts believe that parents, educators, health professionals, and policy makers should work together to improve young people’s cardiovascular health. It is essential to implement effective strategies to protect health and prevent cardiovascular disease, he said. Further loss of life due to SCD.