Doctors outline risk factors related to prevalence of heart attacks among young men

Research indicates that 20 per cent of heart attacks occur in individuals aged 40 years or younger

Cricketer Avi Barot's untimely death at the age of 29 came as a shock to many - as a wicket keeper-batter who was part of Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy-winning team in the 2019-20 season, he seemed extremely fit. And yet, he succumbed to a cardiac arrest, a condition that's typically associated with older ages and unhealthy lifestyles. His death comes close on the heels of actor Sidharth Shukla's death, also attributed to a heart attack, at 40.

Avi Barot. Pic/Getty Images; (right) Sidharth Shukla. Pic/Instagram

As per recent research, 20 per cent of heart attacks occur in individuals aged 40 years or younger; this number has been rising by two percent every year, over the last decade. Dr Ruchit Shah, an interventional cardiologist at Byculla's Masina Hospital, shares that sedentary lifestyles, high-stress levels and the use of tobacco and recreational drugs have led to increasingly younger patients presenting with heart attacks. "We recently had a 17-year-old boy who suffered a major heart attack because of cocaine use. In individuals between 20 and 30 years, smoking is a leading cause of cardiac arrests."

Dr Rajeev Bhagwat, Dr Haresh Mehta and Dr Ruchit Shah

Dr Haresh Mehta, an interventional cardiologist at SL Raheja Hospital, also observes that anabolic steroids and the muscle-building drugs that boost metabolism can provoke heart attacks: "We have seen sportspeople collapsing on the field and, in many cases, they could not be revived." Such heart attacks are typically caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition where a part of the heart muscle becomes so thick that it obstructs the flow of blood, from and to the heart. "This condition is linked to generic traits, which become aggravated by extensive physical training," Dr Shah adds. However, it can be detected with early screening, which is why those undertaking strenuous exercises, such as running, triathlons or heavy gym workouts, must undergo an annual cardiologist consultation including an ECG and a 2D echocardiography.

Dr Rajeev Bhagwat, a senior interventional cardiologist at Nanavati Hospital, says that rising instances of diabetes and hypertension (comorbidities) in younger age groups, which are often stress-induced, can be linked to more heart attacks occurring at earlier ages. "Many youngsters follow a work hard-party hard mantra, which involves sleeping late and waking up early to hit the gym. In the absence of adequate sleep [six to eight hours], the body undergoes certain hormonal changes - an excess of stress hormones is produced, which accumulate in the body," he explains. He also points out that the incidence of heart attacks is highest between 5 am and 11 am, when high adrenaline levels affect the blood's coagulative properties. "You cannot ignore risk factors, such as family history. If anyone in your immediate family has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest or has a history of heart disease, you must consult a doctor before undertaking a strenuous fitness routine," he asserts.
Finally, while some amount of exercise - 30-45 minutes, five days a week - is beneficial, strenuous or lengthy workouts may cause too much strain on your heart muscle. And so, these may contribute to premature cardiac arrests, Dr Shah concludes.