Rohit Shishodia

The untimely demise of actor and Big Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla due to a sudden heart attack on September 2, 2021 has shocked the Bollywood industry.

Fans and celebrities have taken to social media to mourn the death of the late actor who was 40-years-old.

According to the reports, Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital has confirmed his death.

As per the hospital sources, he took some medicine before sleeping and didn’t wake up.

A senior official from Cooper Hospital has confirmed that the actor was brought dead to the hospital by his brother-in-law and his relatives were also there.

Experts have shown concern over the rising numbers of deaths due to heart attack and cardiac arrest at an early age.

India is constantly witnessing the increasing cases of heart failure—a progressive and chronic condition, in which the heart muscle becomes stiff over time and the heart is unable to pump blood properly, thereby limiting the amount of oxygen and nutrients circulated to the vital organs of the body.

Referring to the findings of the International Congestive Heart Failure Study, Dr. Sunil Sofat, Director, Department of Interventional Cardiology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida, told Drug Today Medical Times (DTMT) that the mean age of heart failure among Indians is 59 years, which is around 10 years early than patients in the western countries.

“Sedentary lifestyle, rising stress levels, and higher intake of junk foods combined with exposure to pollution are taking more and more youngsters in India under the grip of heart diseases,” he added.

Dr. Sofat pointed out that the majority of heart failure patients get diagnosed at the time of their first hospitalisation. This clearly shows the lack of awareness and ignorance about the signs and symptoms of heart failure.

The Heart Failure Society of America developed a handy tool that goes by the acronym FACES helping both doctors and patients quickly spot a possible combination of heart failure symptoms.

F stands for fatigue, A for activity limitation, C for congestion, E for Edema or ankle swelling, and S for shortness of breath.

Dr. Sofat said that these five warning signs do not confirm a diagnosis of heart failure; however, they do convey a sense of urgency to seek medical assistance.

On prevention of heart diseases, Dr. Sofat has advised reducing salt intake.

“The sodium results in water retention in the body which worsens the fluid build-up linked with heart failure. Hence, it is important to reduce salt intake to manage the symptoms of heart failure. With more fluids in the body, the heart struggles to pump properly,” he added.

For a healthy heart, one should avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.

“Alcohol consumption leads to high blood pressure. Thus, patients with heart failure are strictly advised to completely stop smoking and alcohol consumption,” said Dr. Sofat.

While talking about physical activity, Dr. Sofat said that it is imperative to do 20-30 minutes of light physical activity as a part of the daily routine. Brisk walking or jogging strengthens the heart muscle and helps regulate blood flow.

This will help to keep body weight in check, as well as also control blood pressure. For heart failure patients, it is advised to always consult a doctor before initiating any form of exercise, he added.

He suggested eating a healthy diet.

“Keeping proper control on the eating habits is compulsory for heart failure patients. It is recommended to include vegetables in the diet, refrain from red meat and limit their consumption of sugary drinks and soda,” Dr. Sofat said.