The increasing cases of heart disease have become the reason for increased mortality among young people. The reports of American researchers have revealed that almost a 13% increase in sudden cardiac arrest has been observed among young people belonging to the age group of the mid-30s and mid-40s. The reports of the Indian Heart Association have revealed that Indians are more likely to get sudden cardiac arrest at a young age when compared to other demographics. Hence, young people are mostly suffering from cardiac arrest, caused by sedentary lifestyles, diabetes, increased alcohol intake, smoking, and hypertension. Some of the patients may not have any known risk factors. Hence, there is a need for creating awareness regarding sudden cardiac arrest among young people by encouraging them to undergo regular health check-ups.
What is Cardiac Arrest?
Cardiac arrest is a condition of the heart being characterized by an unexpected and abrupt cessation of heartbeat. It is mainly caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), which is an irregularity in the heart's electrical system. It further stops the blood flow to the brain, heart, and other body parts, and hence the individual collapses. The combination of CPR and defibrillation helps in restoring the life of the individual suffering from cardiac arrest.
Causes of Cardiac Arrest
Some of the most common causes of cardiac arrest in young people are represented below:
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Long QT syndrome
It is a congenital disorder that is not diagnosed and increases the risk among children of an abnormality within the heart, resulting in sudden cardiac arrest. It is considered a genetic disease, mostly triggered by physical exertion and emotional stress.
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Commotio Cordis
It is known as an electrical disruption occurred by blowing to the chest. It mostly affects individuals participating in sports such as baseball and other related sports and situations where blows to the chest are common. The average age of the affected individuals is reported to be 14 years. Very less patients survived as they received quick CPR and defibrillation.
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
It is a congenital heart muscle disease causing thickening within the left ventricle of the heart. This abnormality results in obstruction of blood flow from the heart, causing loss of consciousness and irregular heartbeat, further resulting in cardiac arrest.
When does Cardiac Arrest occur in young people?
Cardiac arrest is known to be the leading cause of death among a major population of athletes, also affecting young people who are not even involved in sports. It may occur during exercise or at rest or even during sleep. Sometimes the brain damage that occurred during cardiac arrest causes young people to pass away from sudden cardiac arrest days or weeks later. To know more consult with our experienced cardiologists in Mangalore.
Risk factors associated with Cardiac Arrest
Some of the common risk factors associated with cardiac arrest in young people include excess alcohol consumption, smoking, stress, and an unhealthy sleep routine that increases the chances of cardiac arrest. Another major reason for cardiac arrest among young people includes their stressful lives, as the younger generation is competitive and tries to achieve more. As a result, they miss out on taking care of their health, deteriorating their mental and physical health. Their stressful lives result in unbalancing the hormonal changes in their bodies, which is detrimental to heart cells, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest among individuals.
Management of Cardiac Arrest
The immediate action taken to save the patient from cardiac arrest is to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within the first 6 minutes. It results in an improved rate of survival among the patients due to the restarting of heart functions immediately while supplying blood to the brain. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound that uses sound waves for cardiac catheterization, where a catheter is inserted in the heart through blood vessels in the leg or arm. To know more visit KMC Hospital, the best cardiology hospital in Mangalore.
Precautions of Cardiac Arrest
Healthy lifestyle practices should be adopted by the younger generation to mitigate the risk of cardiac arrest. A healthy regime followed by youth should involve following a balanced diet, performing regular exercises, avoiding and eliminating bad habits such as smoking and drugs, regulating alcohol consumption and sleep cycles, and managing stress.
A cardiac physician should be the first priority. Regular medical check-ups are essential for diagnosing any heart problems and providing effective treatment with medications and regimens recommended by doctors.
Consultant - Electrophysiologist
KMC Hospital, Mangalore
