How can we avoid sudden heart attacks? Senior cardiologist offers these tips

HYDERABAD: Increase in sudden heart attacks in young individuals, particularly those with no known comorbidities, have baffled everyone including cardiologists.

Noted Telangana folk singer and State Warehousing Corporation Chairman V Saichander, popularly known as Sai Chand, died of a heart attack on Thursday. The 39-year-old singer suffered the heart stroke when he was at his farmhouse in his native village. He was taken to a private hospital in Nagarkurnool before being shifted to a hospital in Hyderabad where he was declared brought dead.

According to reports, Sai Chand complained of chest pain and was rushed to the hospital in the Nagarkurnool district. However, as his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to Hyderabad.

The unexpected death of Sai Chand has sent shockwaves throughout Telangana.

Dr S S Mukharjee Madivada, a senior interventional cardiologist in Hyderabad, took to Twitter on Thursday sharing his reaction on the incident. He said that the videos of his wife crying uncontrollably were heartbreaking.

In this connection, the doctor recalled late actor Puneeth Rajkumar's death, saying that he was also diagnosed with a heart attack at one medical centre but died while being shifted to a bigger hospital.

A similar situation occurred in the case of Sai Chand's death, which could have been avoided if he had received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), according to the doctor.

Some important advice from Dr S.S Mukharjee Madivada to avoid sudden heart attack deaths:

There are two important points to address

• It is essential to provide CPR training to everyone and educate them about the usage of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in all civil societies.
• The transportation of a patient during a heart attack should be handled with utmost care.

To prevent such mishaps one must follow these important things

• Victims of heart attacks should only be transported in ambulances, as performing CPR in private vehicles is highly challenging.
• We should train Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in CPR, defibrillator usage and intubation.
• Legislation should be introduced to ensure that every ambulance is staffed with a qualified EMT.
• The training for these individuals can be completed within 15 days.

Make these lifestyle changes to avoid Sudden heart attacks

1. Healthy Diet

2. Weight Management

3. Regular Physical Activity

4. Smoking Cessation

5. Alcohol Consumption Limitation

6. Stress Management

7. Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Monitoring

8. Diabetes Control

9. Sufficient Sleep

10. Regular Health Check-ups

Dr. S.S Mukharjee Madivada has appealed to Telangana Minister KT Rama Rao to consider the following actions

• Issue a Government Order (GO) mandating the placement of AEDs and trained individuals at public places.
• Implement another GO directing heart patients to be transported in ambulances equipped with trained EMTs and resuscitation equipment.