Dubai: Sazib Kaula, an Indian resident in Dubai and now a 55-year-old senior business director of an international organization, was only 41 years old when she had a heart attack. A very healthy person in the ideal weight range, he ran five times a week, ran nearly 5-6 km at an average speed of 10 kmp daily, and played golf weekly.
Looking back on his experience, Cowra said: This happened on Sunday when I was visiting my friend’s house for lunch. Suddenly, I felt a pain in his left arm on his back. I was sweaty and uncomfortable, but I thought the incident would disappear. But within minutes, I felt I had to go to the hospital. “
He was driven to an emergency room by his friend, where doctors diagnosed him as being in the midst of a heart attack. “I was surprised because I was very healthy and healthy. I was 41 years old,” said Cowra, who had to undergo angioplasty to place a stent in the main artery.
Family history, smoking habits
The reason Kaula had a heart attack was probably due to his family history of heart disease and his smoking habits, doctors said. “The doctor asked me only two questions. My father, who was a non-smoker, had his first heart attack at the age of 44, where I smoked about 10 cigarettes a day. So that would have led to a thickening of my main artery. Later, when I used angioplasty and a stent, I felt better, “says Kaula.
Since the incident, Cowra has quit smoking altogether and has caught up with his fitness schedule. “I run five times a week, play golf once a week and eat a healthy diet. Two years ago, I ran a half marathon in Las Al-Haima. My weight is always stable. The only difference is that I do regular health and heart checks every 6 months, as the doctor said it might have been worse when I had a heart attack. Fitting my body probably saved me, “Kaura added.
Cowra has not experienced an isolated case. In the last two years, there have been many cases of sudden cardiac arrest, collapse, and suffering from arrhythmias, often with fatal consequences. But what are the associated risks?
The importance of healthy exercise
Doctors recognize physical exercise and retirement as the best way to stay healthy, but cardiologists say they need to determine how much is too much.
Dr. Abdul Rahuman Aboobaker, a cardiologist at Fujairah’s Thumbay Hospital, explains: “
He states: “The most important cause of exercise-related cardiac events is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) or atherosclerosis, which is the obstruction of the major arteries of the heart that supply oxygenated blood. Accumulation occurs very slowly and the disease is said to be a silent killer, but atherosclerotic plaques can rupture at any time and cause an acute occlusion of the coronary arteries. Precipitating factors can be smoking habits, physical or mental stress. Stress is also unquantifiable and its effects vary from person to person. Exercise stress varies with age and physical fitness. It depends on the condition. “
Ajay Chatulvedi, a health department employee, qualified for basic life support (BLS), and trained to perform advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an emergency, was trained in BLS. As an employee, he said he worked closely with people in the event of sudden irregularities. Rhythm or heart attack.
He states: “Exercise-induced angina is a common phenomenon. In the case of an individual whose arteries may be obstructed, extra tension causes excessive tension in the myocardium, causing complete occlusion of the arteries and cardiac arrest. Most young people do not think they have cardiovascular disease and may ignore symptoms such as excessive sweating, nausea, and dizziness. They are due to strenuous exercise and weight lifting. I’m guessing, but it could be because you have a heart attack. “
So it’s better to be safe than to regret.
Fitness experts say it’s important to slowly and gradually build up and not be content with sudden exercise.
You need a regular schedule of stretching, breathing and workouts. This is followed by an elaborate cool-down process that helps prevent all sorts of strains on the heart.
Dr. Aboobaker said: Individuals should follow the rule of thumb of having regular health examinations. Before doing high intensity training, it is important to know your body and how much you can stretch. Moreover, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. People who often exercise irregularly and then supplement with intense training to make up for the missed periods are those who are facing health challenges.Physical exercise should be categorized as beginner, intermediate and advanced [to avoid over-exhaustion].. “
If your body develops a fever or an infection such as COVID-19, you should wait for it to fully recover before you start exercising. It is advisable to start an exercise therapy by gradual exercise at least 2 weeks after full recovery.
Know the symptoms
If you are exercising and have any of the following symptoms, stop exercising immediately and see a doctor. Weight, chest pain, dyspnea, abnormal sweating, dizziness, lightheadedness, and arrhythmias are some of the danger signals.
Go to medical evaluation every year
Anyone who is planning to follow an exercise program and is over 40 should ideally consult with his or her doctor, Dr. Aboobaker advised. Individuals need to undergo an electrocardiogram and blood tests to find risk factors such as CAD, diabetes, cholesterol and creatinine. If an individual has a family history of heart disease or is short of breath and sometimes suffers from palpation, he or she should take an echocardiogram and treadmill test. Coronary CT angiography is also recommended for people at high risk of heart disease and sudden death in the family.
Sports and heart health
Dr. Naeem Tareen, a major cardiologist in the United Arab Emirates, says that anyone active in sports should also be aware of heart health.
Dr. Taline, a certified cardiologist at the American Heart Association and chief of the American Heart Center in Dubai Healthcare City, said that even professional sports people can lose strength and suffer from heart problems when they quit active sports. I said there is. sick.
“My message is that everyone, including athletes and cricketers, needs to be regularly tested and have an echocardiography and lipid profile for ECG stress testing, apart from following a healthy lifestyle. That’s it, “said Dr. Taline.
He said professional athletes tend to suffer from post-retirement heart disease because they don’t tend to exercise as they used to.
He said it is important for the general public to see a cardiologist immediately if there is chest discomfort, chest weight, or shortness of breath during exercise or sports.
“At first, it happens after exercise or exercise. Some people experience indigestion, pain in the left arm, pain in the jaw and discomfort. These are all warning signs and should not be ignored. The general public. You should monitor your weight and stop smoking and shisha. You should also monitor your fats: cholesterol, triglycerides, especially good and bad cholesterol. “
Dr. Tureen said that strict control of blood sugar is also important because diabetes is a major risk factor. Blood pressure also needs to be properly controlled. “
He said lack of exercise is also a risk factor. “I advise patients to walk every day. Everyone should have a health check every year.”
What if you feel anxious while exercising?
• Stop exercising immediately and call emergency medical care number 999.
• Do not dismiss or ignore visible signs of discomfort such as arm pain, anxiety, palpitation, nausea, or dizziness.
• Contact the reception and ask for help. If your gym has a paramedic who knows how to manage CPR, ask for help.
• Call or notify family members. Call him or her if you have a doctor.
• Open the window and lie down.
• Loosen your clothes and take a deep breath.