Smoking leads 19-year-old to suffer heart attack

In a recent incident triggered by a smoke-filled sedentary lifestyle, a 19-year-old student without any prior health or genetic conditions suffered a cardiac attack. However, Dr. Vikas Chopra at Primus Hospital successfully saved the young man’s life, by implanting a stent and administering clot-dissolving medication in the obstructed arteries.

Aman, a 19-year-old male from Sarita Vihar, Delhi who smoked a pack of cigarettes daily, suddenly experienced immense chest pain and discomfort while playing video game during night time, followed by severe fatigue.

 Concerned about his well-being, the patient rushed for immediate medical attention at Primus Hospital. Upon his arrival at the hospital on 16th Aug. 2023, the tests revealed blockages in all three of his major coronary arteries, a condition which required swift intervention, rushing him to hospitalization.

The attending cardiologist at the emergency room discovered that the patient was facing a critical situation of a heart attack. The severity and extent of the blockages in the patient’s coronary arteries raised alarms, especially for someone so young. Wasting no time, the medical team implanted a stent in one of the obstructed arteries and administered clot-dissolving medication for the remaining two, within just half an hour. Fortunately, the patient responded positively to the treatment, but the situation remained unpredictable due to the absence of collateral circulation in younger patients.

Dr. Vikas Chopra, Sr. Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Since the start, we understood the importance of time in such cases, ensuring the swift administration of both the implant and medication. The patient’s body also responded well to the procedures, resulting in a rapid recovery. The missing collateral circulation is a significant concern. As, older individuals with existing arterial blockages often naturally develop bypass routes known as collaterals, which safeguard against sudden cardiac damage; however, the absence of this collateral circulation in younger patients due to no history of arterial blockages can lead to more severe cardiac damage. 

While genetics do play a role, these days other factors like lifestyle choices and smoking are becoming the major contributing factors for cardiac attacks among young adults, leading to increased death rates. Now, it is becoming ever-so-important to be proactive when it comes to heart health, he said.