Cardiologists stress on measures to check rising heart disease among young women

Monday, 26 AUGUST 2024 | Anupma Khanna | DEHRADUN

With its scenic and tranquil environs, Uttarakhand has traditionally been regarded as a salubrious health-friendly place to live in. However, in a silent but alarming trend, an increasing number of younger women in the hill State are being diagnosed with heart disease. What is the primary cause? Harmful lifestyle changes, warn top doctors. Prominent cardiologists contacted by The Pioneer highlight that women in their 30s and 40s are presenting with conditions such as coronary artery disease traditionally associated with older men and post-menopausal women.

Associate professor of cardiology at the Government Doon Medical College, Dr Amar Upadhyay informs that he is seeing an increasing number of women with acquired heart disease, predominantly coronary artery disease, from all parts of Uttarakhand including remote villages and not only cities like Dehradun. Till about a decade ago women from these regions were presented more with valvular heart disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death for Indian women, responsible for around 30 per cent of female deaths, according to the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR). The Indian Heart Association reports that CVDs account for 27 per cent of deaths among women aged 45-64. According to director of cardiology at the Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dr Preeti Sharma, “More and more younger women these days are experiencing hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol leading to heart disease.” Senior cardiologists attribute the rise to higher smoking incidence, sedentary lifestyles, stress of busy lives and junk-food diets as the biggest contributing factors. As explained by Sharma, “Smoking in younger women which was earlier uncommon in Uttarakhand is now becoming increasingly prevalent especially in big cities like Dehradun. People need to be educated that smoking and binge drinking are extremely harmful. Contributing to this worrying trend is the changing socio-cultural landscape of centers like Dehradun as doctors agree that the rising smoking rates among younger generations are exacerbated by the proliferation of social venues such as discotheques and pubs.

Upadhyay says, “Only yesterday I performed angioplasty on a 40-year-old woman from a posh area of Dehradun. Often I find women expressing a sense of pride that they smoke, as if it is a statement of feminism for them. And such cases are becoming more and more common in my practice. This is a dangerous mindset. I want to tell all youngsters that smoking is far from fashionable, it poses serious health risks like heart disease. Prioritising good health over harmful habits like smoking is a more responsible and modern choice. Today’s youth need to understand this.” 

Combined Medical Institute director Dr RK Jain asserts, “We need to use print, electronic media and government channels to convey a clear message: smoking can kill and severely damages your heart.” Focusing on the patient group of women in their 30s and 40s, he adds, “While estrogen was once believed to protect women from heart disease, this is no longer the case. Today, younger women are increasingly vulnerable due to a mix of lifestyle factors. Sedentary habits, poor eating, smoking and high stress levels are undermining this perceived protection.”

An important aspect specific to women is that heart disease symptoms often present atypically compared to men. “Women may experience extreme fatigue, indigestion, shortness of breath, or back pain instead of the classic chest pain,” points out Sharma. “This can lead to delays in seeking medical help, which is critical.” Upadhyay explains, “The first six hours after a heart attack are crucial for effective treatment. Delays due to misinterpretation of symptoms can result in irreversible damage to the heart muscle and increase the risk of long-term health consequences or even death.” Sharma also highlights a significant gap in heart attack awareness in Uttarakhand. “Few patients seek medical attention within the first six hours after a heart attack here, unlike in Delhi, where most patients arrive within the first three hours. This delay can severely impact recovery and underscores the need for improved awareness and education.”

Department of cardiology head at Shri Mahant Indiresh hospital, Dr Salil Garg cautions about the rising incidence of obesity, high BMI and high cholesterol among younger women. “A combination of lifestyle factors like lesser physical activity, junk-food diets, excessive hours using smart-phones, longer and demanding work hours are quietly but surely wreaking havoc on the health of our younger population. The rising incidence of high BMI among relatively young individuals is alarming and significantly increases the risk of heart disease,” he warns. He adds, “Unfortunately, many only seek help after a heart attack, even though they may have had heart disease for a much longer time. Early detection of heart disease in younger women, like in other patients, is crucial. Routine screenings and preventive care are essential. It’s also important to avoid self-medication and unnecessary tests without professional guidance. Also, instead of blindly following things they hear and watch on social media, patients should know when to seek evidence-based allopathic treatment versus exploring alternative medicine.”

The escalating rates of heart disease among younger women in Uttarakhand signal an urgent need for proactive measures. Addressing lifestyle factors, improving awareness about atypical symptoms and ensuring timely medical intervention are critical steps in combating this alarming trend. With heart disease now the leading cause of death among women, the collective response to these emerging challenges in women’s cardiovascular health will shape the future well-being of generations to come, Garg added