1 week Ago By Ashima Sharda Mahindra
Even though sudden cardiac death in young people is rare, it is an alarming occurrence that is on the rise, according to experts. Doctors say sudden cardiac death happens as a result of a heart-related issue that occurs within an hour of symptoms starting. In many cases, the underlying heart issues are unknown, making sudden cardiac death even more traumatic for loved ones.
In most cases, sudden cardiac death in young people, those under 35 years of age, is due to a genetic or congenital condition, which doctors may or may not have diagnosed before death. “There are more and more cases of people, including those who seem relatively fit and follow healthy lifestyles, experiencing cardiovascular incidents. It is becoming clear that the roots of heart disease are more complicated than we might have thought,” Dr Ramesh Menon, Associate Director of Personal Genomics & Genomic Medicine, MedGenome, told Times Now.
According to the World Heart Report 2023, there is a staggering impact of cardiovascular diseases globally, affecting over half a billion individuals and causing 20.5 million deaths. India, specifically, is confronting a rising epidemic of CVD risk factors such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels.
“Factors like lifestyle changes, medical conditions, and genetic predispositions all play an important role in this complex puzzle,” Dr. Menon added. How complex is the puzzle of heart disease? Global health concerns persist due to the multifaceted nature of heart diseases, which include lifestyle choices, genetic predispositions, and emerging post-COVID-19 complications like myocarditis and pericarditis.
This broadens the spectrum of cardiovascular ailments to encompass conditions like: Coronary artery disease Heart failure Arrhythmias Valvular disorders According to the latest World Heart Report, 2024, the effects of air pollutants include black carbon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 micrometres or less (PM2.5), etc.
with CVDs. India accounts for a major share of cardiovascular deaths worldwide, with an age-standardized death rate much higher than the global average. “This alarming pattern calls for looking at other factors in addition to eating healthy and exercising regularly.
We need fresh, innovative approaches to tackle this crisis head-on,” Dr. Menon added. Can Polygenic Risk Scores revolutionise prevention? One promising development in the field of preventive care is the use of a Polygenic Risk Score (PRS).
Imagine being able to look at over a million genetic markers to understand someone’s risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). That is exactly what PRS does. “It is like a detailed roadmap of your heart health, showing where the potential pitfalls lie.
This allows for earlier detection and enables healthcare professionals to craft more personalized prevention strategies. Some people need a more targeted approach, and that is where these genetic insights come into play,” said Dr. Menon.
What role does genetic screening play? Experts believe a significant portion of heart disease risk stems from genetic factors, especially young-onset or premature coronary artery disease. Genome-wide association studies have pinpointed numerous common genetic variants linked to PCAD, which include genetic screening which plays a crucial role in identifying high-risk individuals by analyzing specific genetic markers associated with heart disease. “This is particularly valuable for individuals under 45 years, as it enables early detection and enables one to mitigate the risk of developing the disease much ahead of clinical symptoms start appearing,” Dr.
Menon added. According to Dr. Menon, by integrating genetic insights with traditional risk factors like diet and exercise, healthcare professionals can create tailored management plans.
“This personalized approach ensures that interventions are more precise and effective in mitigating cardiovascular risks, moving us towards a future of individualized heart health care.” Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Health and around the world..
