Experts explain why there is sudden surge in heart attacks in Kashmir

'10-20 heart attack cases being brought to SMHS Hospital alone on a daily basis'

A sudden surge in heart attacks in Kashmir has worried people with a dozen cases reported in the last 48 hours. 

Doctors said that prevailing freezing temperature constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure as blood tends to be thicker during extreme cold, increasing chances of heart attack or stroke.

Dr Irfan, a cardiologist from Government Medical College Srinagar told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that heart attack cases in Kashmir have increased in the last four years with about 10-20 heart attack cases being brought to SMHS Hospital alone on a daily basis.

He suggested precautionary measures including keeping blood pressure and diabetes in control and cholesterol levels. Besides, people should leave sedentary life, quit smoking and do regular physical exercises to avoid risk of heart attack, Dr Irfan added.

“People must keep themselves warm, avoid going out in the chilly cold for a walk. They should eat a healthy diet, mainly fruits and vegetables, to keep themselves hydrated,” he said.

He said that the first hour of a heart attack is called the golden hour and patients who have cardiac emergencies need thrombosis and first aid after which they can be shifted to tertiary care hospital.

“Whenever we receive a call, we analyse the ECG and ensure that the right treatment is given to a patient at the right time at their doorstep. When a cardiac emergency case gets first medical contact in the area, the doctor uploads ECG in WhatsApp group of Save heart initiative, where a cardiologist evaluates the ECG following which he guides the official how to handle the patient,” the doctor said.

Another cardiologist said the common symptoms for heart attack include chest pain, tightness, squeezing/ache discomfort that spreads to the shoulder, arm, back, neck, jaw, teeth or sometimes the upper belly. “Cold sweat, fatigue, heartburn or indigestion, light-headedness or sudden dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath are some of the common symptoms,” he said—(KNO)