Jammu and Kashmir’s well-known cardiologist and former Director SKIMS and Ex-Officio Secretary Dr A G Ahangar in an exclusive conversation with Rising Kashmir Senior Reporter Sameer Showkin Lone, talks about the reason behind increasing heart attacks in winters and how they can be minimised.
The expert suggested ways to reduce heart attacks like burning out excess fat through physical activities, consumption of home -made food, avoiding commercial junk foods, soft drinks, sticking to a healthy lifestyle, minimising stress, smoke, salt, sugar , sedentary lifestyle, and screen time.
We see increased cases of heart attacks among people which swell in winters. What are the reasons behind this?
As the atmospheric temperature dips in autumn and winter the density of the particulate matter, smoke, dust etc increases in the air. At the same time the peripheral body temperature dips that leads to vasoconstriction, increased viscosity of our blood, increased platelet aggregation and increased tendency to succumb to viral infections purposive with the limited physical activity, more of indoor life in family and society at large . All these factors interplay along with genetic predisposition for increased propensity for increased heart attacks, strokes, COPD, peripheral vascular disease, even dysglycemia etc.
What do you advise to lessen the risk of a heart attack?
People should workout with best possible life style adaptation, burn out excess of fat through physical activities, consume home -made food items, avoid commercial junk foods, soft drinks, stick to healthy lifestyle , minimize stress, smoke, salt, sugar , sedentary lifestyle, screen time on electronic gadgets, support each other as and when required in the times of stress or strain.
What lifestyle changes/ diet do people need to follow?
Our food habits are peculiar to particular regions, and religious faith and belief. All these food items are time tested. Each individual should know by experience of others and advice from the experts as to what would be the choice on an individual basis to lead a healthy life. Vegetarian, nonveteran, beverages, bakeries, fruits and fluids are all good stuff but we as human beings need to be our doctors over selves to choose the best for us. Excess of everything is bad. We must consume only as much as is needed.
What are possible causes / symptoms that may lead to heart attack?
Ans: From birth defects, genetic predispositions, rheumatic heart ailments, vascular insufficiency, degenerative disorders, conduction defects to advanced heart failure constitute the spectrum of causes of heart attacks including sudden cardiac deaths, while the symptoms include palpitations, breathlessness, swollen feet chest pain, fatigue, transient unconscious spells, even a fatal fall.
What are treatment options?
Treatment options range from counselling, medication, therapeutic, interventions like angioplasties, stents, pacemakers, open heart operations, life support devices, even transplants.
What medications people need to take to avoid heart attacks?
The best medication for avoiding any heart attack is individualized by a specialist doctor depending upon the particular predisposing factor for that individual e.g . Antihypertensive, Antiplatelet, Anticoagulants, Antiarrhythmic, Preload and afterload reducing agents, Immunomodulators, Therapeutic Interventions , Operations , Implantable Devices and specific treatment of Co –morbidities- all contribute in minimizing the incidence of heart attacks, strokes and sudden deaths.
