Dr Safi Shaikh has been practicing as a Consultant Physician in Ahmedabad for the last 20 years. His area of interest includes Diabetes and Diabetic vascular complications.

Dr Safi Shaikh shares with us, the essential tips on maintaining a healthy heart and a happy life while addressing the most common topics:

• Rising heart attack cases amongst youngsters

Nowadays, cases of young patients with coronary artery disease are rising. This is majorly due to an undisciplined lifestyle, consumption of junk and other fast food and no to very low interest in physical activities. Social media has created a FOMO in every individual and hence, they are always stressed and are compelled to display their grief, desires, happiness on social media in order to stay connected and to get appreciations or empathy. All these in turn leads to loneliness, depression and increased chances of succumbing to Cardiovascular diseases.

• Very fit celebrities passing away due to heart attacks

If a person is inherently prone to cardiac diseases and without knowing their cardiac condition, if he/she exercises vigorously, he/she can die in a massive attack. Secondly, “Vasospasm” is another phenomenon where without having arterial blocks, one can have a severe cardiac attack while exercising. The associated factor may be severe stress or cold climate etc.

• Relation between Heart Attack, Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Cholesterol

Apart from inherent or genetic causes, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and high BP or cholesterol are the byproduct of acquired lifestyle. This leads to metabolic syndromes, including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. You can control it by:

1. Regularly exercising for 30 minutes
2. Eating green leafy vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains
3. Avoiding saturated fats and salt
4. Avoiding smoking, consumption of tobacco and alcohol

• Lifestyle modifications to keep our Heart and Mind healthy and happy

There is an urgent need for lifestyle modification with more greens, more exercise and above all a lot of positive ‘Que Sera, Sera’ attitude. Make new friends, laugh loudly and pray/meditate daily to calm ourselves. It is also essential that we look after the needy, empathize with them. Once our mind and soul are calm, our health will be much better by itself.