Attention Parents, Listen to the heart breaking story

Teenagers suffering from heart diseases have been on the rise in the past few years, thanks to poor lifestyle choices.

If the trend remains unchecked, it can have serious adverse impact on the society as the young determines a country’s future, according to experts.

They say increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyle and booming fast food culture are the main culprits and it is impossible to reverse the situation unless they get checked.
Bahrain Specialist Hospital cardiology consultant Dr Prashant Prabhakar said the cause behind such an upswing is nothing but the direct repercussion of poor lifestyle choices.
Dr Prabhakar said he even operated on a 14-year-old patient who was suffering from complications caused by a heart disease. “Prevalence of these diseases in young people is now being seen as very frequent. Various risk factors such as smoking, sedentary lifestyle, fast food and lack of willingness to seek medical help has contributed to the increased prevalence of heart disease in young people.
“Youngest patient I have seen with a triple vessel disease was a 14-year-old boy. He had to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting and it was a very difficult experience for me personally. This was in the year 2012 and now he has recovered fully and is doing fine.”
Bahrain Specialist Hospital Dietitian Nagham Noureddine said that obesity is also a common concern among children. Obesity is considered to be one of the main causes of heart diseases.
“It is on the rise, it is an epidemic now, and worldwide obesity has tripled since 1975. In 2016, 21 million children under the age of five were found to be overweight or obese.”
Chief Resident of the Accident and Emergency Department at Salmaniya Medical Complex Dr P V Cheriyan, said the situation cannot be brought under control without changing fast food culture.