Junk food, lack of exercise weakening Amdavadi hearts

Lack of exercise, penchant for junk food and a life of stress seem to be taking a toll on young Amdavadis’ hearts, say doctors in the city, while talking about the severity of heart diseases in the younger generation, particularly those below the age of 40.

“The main reason for heart problems in the age group of 30-40 years is mental, physical and emotional stress. Junk food, smoking and tobacco have also led to an increase in the risk of heart attack. My youngest heart patient was a 21-year-old,” said Jay Patel, a cardiologist.

Earlier, heart problems in women were common only after menopause. But now, it is surprising to find an increasing number of women suffering from heart ailments even before they hit menopause, pointed out Patel. Further, the doctors also said that youngsters were at risk for missing out on fibre in their diet.

According to a study done by Metropolis Healthcare on Homocysteine, a common amino acid (essential building blocks that make body proteins) and a barometer for risk of cardiovascular (CVD), Ahmedabad showed the highest percentage (26.90%) of samples with an increase in Homocysteine levels for the age group of 20 years or less.

“This indicates the existence of increased risk even among the younger age group of less than 20 years. On the other hand, the third highest percentage of female samples was found in Ahmedabad with nearly 22.83% having elevated levels of Homocysteine,” said the study.

The study was carried out on nearly 10,000 people across major cities over a period of three years beginning in 2010.

Meanwhile, another study, The Saffola Life Study 2013, which covered 5,165 respondents from Ahmedabad over a period of three years, found that 74% of them had a high risk of contracting CVD. It revealed that 49% of the respondents in the city were obese.

Compared to other cities, the study found that 58% Amdavadis consumed the least serving of vegetables and salad. Moreover, 47% respondents consumed the least variety of fruits in a day. Further, Smita Shah, a dietician, said high dependence on processed, preserved and fried food and a menu devoid of vegetables, fruits and whole grain were making people vulnerable to CVD.

According to cardiologist Vipul Kapoor, heart disease is affecting people a decade earlier. “The blockages that were earlier found in the age group of 50 years and above are now becoming prevalent in the twenties,” he said.