Over the past some years, Kashmir has been witnessing a disturbing surge in young individuals falling victim to heart attacks. Health experts in interviews to this paper have pointed to post-Covid complications, increasing substance abuse, and sedentary lifestyles as the primary culprits. The post-Covid scenario is particularly troubling. Though we still need conclusive evidence, Covid-19 is believed to have led to an increase in heart attacks among young patients. Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle, directly impacts the heart, while the coronavirus causes inflammation in veins and blood vessels, reducing the heart’s blood supply.
Similarly, a sedentary lifestyle, excessive consumption of junk food, and widespread smoking, especially among young people, are also contributing factors to the elevated risk of heart attacks. According to the National Health Family Survey 5, a substantial percentage of men in Jammu and Kashmir are smokers of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Experts have also sounded the alarm on the escalating problem of substance abuse among the youth. The use of opioids, inhalants, and particularly heroin, has surged, leading to overdose-related deaths and heart attacks. Also, according to the survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Health, around 9 percent of the population of Jammu and Kashmir have diabetes. The reason for this is again our unhealthy lifestyle. A significant number of people don’t exercise, nor do we eat balanced food.
One more factor that has affected the health of a large mass of people is the stress and depression which has now become veritably an epidemic in Kashmir. According to a study carried out by the Doctors Without Borders in 2016, nearly 1.8 million people in the region suffered from mental health disorders. But it is clear that the number has since only further risen – albeit, we need to have a proper study to get an estimate of how many are afflicted by the disease now. Here again, the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the situation, with lockdowns, fear, and uncertainty leading to an increase in anxiety and depression. Compounding the growing mental health burden in the UT is the lack of adequate mental health services in the valley, creating a significant treatment gap. However, in a welcome effort toward prioritizing mental health, Jammu and Kashmir recently announced the setting up of a dedicated mental health authority. The primary objective of this authority is to oversee and regulate all mental health facilities within the region, ensuring they are properly registered and conform to established guidelines.
That said, we need a proper investigation of the growing incidence of heart attacks in the UT. And more importantly, we need to improve and upgrade the health infrastructure to ensure swift medical attention to the people when they suffer from heart attacks. As of now, many lives are lost as the patients can’t be moved to hospitals quickly enough to be administered treatment. It is time the government pays attention.
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