Gujarat is witnessing a disturbing rise in heart attack cases among children and young adults, sparking concern among families and health experts. In just the first seven months of this year, multiple shocking incidents have been reported across the state involving children as young as eight.
According to a media report, over the past two years, 262 infants under the age of one have suffered cardiac arrests or heart attacks. In 2023 alone, 1,052 individuals aged 11 to 25 died from heart attacks in Gujarat.
Doctors link this worrying trend to sedentary lifestyles, poor diets, and increasing stress levels in the younger population. They urge families to adopt healthier, more structured daily routines to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac issues.
Recent Tragic Incidents:
- Ahmedabad: 8-year-old Gargi, a class 3 student, suddenly collapsed at school; CCTV captured the tragic moment.
- Unspecified location: 15-year-old Laxman collapsed while eating and was later declared dead due to a heart attack.
- Kutch: 20-year-old Mahesh, working on a farm, died after feeling dizzy while drinking tea.
- Rajkot: Bhavesh, a 13-year-old student, collapsed and died during a family outing at Atal Sarovar. Another case involved 20-year-old Yuvrajsingh Yadav from Metoda GIDC who died suddenly from a heart attack.
- Surat: Five heart attack deaths were reported just this month, including a 14-year-old girl who collapsed at home in Parvat village.
Health experts are alarmed by the narrowing gap in heart attack cases between those above and below 50 years of age. The state has seen a nearly 10% rise in heart attacks among youth in the past year.
In response, the Gujarat government has launched training programs in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for school teachers, college professors, and police personnel to ensure immediate emergency aid is available when needed.