Doctors raise alarm on World Heart Day as cardiac cases surge in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 28: As the world marks 'World Heart Day' on September 29, medical professionals in Kashmir have sounded a stark warning about the rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases in Kashmir.

The alarming statistic of 20 to 25 daily cardiac arrest cases in Kashmir's hospitals over the past few years, with numbers climbing annually, paints a grim picture of the Valley's heart health crisis.

Dr Irfan Ahmad, Consultant Cardiologist at SMHS Hospital, highlighted multiple factors contributing to this crisis. "There's a significant rise in heart attacks in Kashmir. The reasons are manifold: high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, stress and a sedentary lifestyle. With growing urbanisation and industrialisation, we're seeing a corresponding increase in heart attacks."

Dr Irfan expressed particular concern about younger patients, citing drug abuse, smoking, and obesity as primary risk factors. "We're now encountering new patients facing heart failures due to drug abuse, a condition that was virtually non-existent earlier," he noted.

"Stress remains a major trigger for heart attacks."

Dr Showkat Shah, a critical care expert said: "Nearly twenty million deaths occur per year due to heart attacks worldwide."

He emphasised the importance of preventive measures, advising, "Walk at least 30 minutes a day, stop smoking and using drugs, maintain a low-salt diet, control diabetes and hypertension, manage your weight, and reduce stress through meditation."

The high salt consumption in Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a significant health concern. Experts warn that excessive salt intake could lead to severe complications, including heart failure, hypertension, stroke, kidney disease, and even gastric carcinoma.

Dr Shah also highlighted a worrying trend among younger patients. "We receive most heart attack patients who are young and are smokers," he told Greater Kashmir. "Heart attack patients are usually in denial, often mistaking heart pain for stomach discomfort or gas problems, which delays critical treatment."

On World Heart Day, doctors in Kashmir unanimously call for lifestyle changes to combat this growing health crisis. Their message is clear: stay active, maintain a healthy diet, avoid stress, and seek medical attention promptly for any chest discomfort.

"My health, my right" serves as the rallying cry for World Heart Day 2024, shining a spotlight on the escalating rates of cardiovascular events in Jammu & Kashmir, reflecting a worldwide trend. Medical experts attribute this surge to various factors, including environmental pollution, insufficient physical activity, and the prevalence of fast food consumption.

The Kashmir Valley faces additional challenges, with post-pandemic health complications, a rise in substance abuse, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles contributing to the growing heart health crisis.

A heart attack is defined by a significant reduction or complete cessation of oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle. On a global scale, heart-related illnesses are responsible for roughly 27-31 percent of all deaths, affecting an estimated 20.5 million individuals. Notably, 85 percent of these fatalities could potentially be avoided through timely and appropriate medical intervention.