Around 2 years back I met a 21-year-old guy named Vikas (name changed) who was a medical student. He was on a bed in an expensive private hospital with his distressed parents standing by his side. They looked sleep deprived and had a worn out expression.
The night before, Vikas had suffered from a major heart attack and angiography showed that he had two blockages in his arteries. Upon asking he described his lifestyle to me and it was the life most of lead in that age. He had no history of cardiovascular issues in his family.
The look in his mother’s eyes disturbed me deeply. It left me with the haunting question, how can something like this happen to someone at such a young age. Upon research, I discovered that cardiac issues are clawing their grip fast on the younger generation. If not now, then with the fast paced lifestyle we lead there are very high chances that by the time we are middle aged, we won’t be as fit as our grandparents and parents used to be then.
To ensure that we are healthy, wealthy and wise till we have eyes full of wisdom, here are a few things we should remember:
1. Smokers have 30 percent higher chance of getting cardiac issues. Don’t smoke and avoid second-hand smoke if you want to see yourself traveling the world by the time you make enough money to do that.
2. Drink sensibly and avoid oral contraceptive pills as they alter blood sugar and blood pressure. Early prevention is better than heavy cure later.
3. Follow your mom’s advice, ‘eat healthy’. While junk costs less and is easy to gulp when you are in a hurry, it is high in saturated and trans fat which contributes to obesity. You want to be able to wear an LBD in your thirties, eat healthy now.
4. For at least two days a week, practice some muscle strengthening activities. It not only keeps diseases at bay but also ensure that you are strong enough for adventure sports at an older age.
5. Be aware of the basics. Know your blood pressure, hemoglobin, BMI and ensure that the numbers are on a healthy side. If there is something that needs to be corrected, it is better that you know it before it is too late.
6. Know your family history. If your family has seen cases of cardiac issues earlier, you better tread sensibly and lower all risks. Live, long and prosper! 🙂
7. Unfriend stress. Long term stress can increase heart rate & blood pressure. This in turn damages the artery walls. Be happy, smile often and live your life wholeheartedly.
Take care of your heart, it will always take care of you! 🙂
Fact Sources: Heart.org and Goredforwomen.org