In an unfortunate development, a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) driver passed away on Monday after suffering a cardiac arrest while on duty. Further tragedy was averted thanks to the presence of mind and composure of his colleague, the conductor, who took the wheels and stopped the bus.
The deceased BMTC driver was identified as Kiran, 39, who worked at BMTC Depot 40. He was behind the wheels of a bus en route to Yeshwantpur from Nelamangala to Yeshwantpur when he suddenly experienced chest pain and lost consciousness.
Footage from the bus’s interior camera showed Kiran falling from the driver's seat while the vehicle was in motion at moderate speed. The bus grazed another BMTC bus as it kept going ahead before the conductor reached the steering, the video showed. After the vehicle stopped, the conductor with the help of another man was seen taking his unconscious colleague out of the bus as the public started gathering outside.
Kiran was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead by doctors upon arrival, India Today said in a report.
Why are so many young Indians at risk of heart attacks?
According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for one-fifth of Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) deaths worldwide, especially in the younger population. The results of Global Burden of Disease study state an age-standardised CVD death rate of 272 per one lakh population in India, which is much higher than the global average of 235.
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CVDs reveal a multifaceted reality in India, with implications across various dimensions. Epidemiological studies have consistently linked sedentary lifestyle with increased mortality, particularly from CVDs. For instance, individuals reporting prolonged sitting or extensive television viewing have shown higher mortality risks. Around 50 per cent of respondents of a survey believe that sedentary behaviour has an equivalent detrimental effect on heart health as smoking.
A heart attack is when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. The heart muscle is robbed of its vital blood supply and, if left untreated, will begin to die because it is not getting enough oxygen. A cardiac arrest is when a person's heart stops pumping blood around the body and one stops breathing normally. A heart failure, on the other hand, is when the heart doesn’t pump normally, causing the hormone and the nervous systems to compensate for the lack of blood. The body may raise the blood pressure, making the heart beat faster and causing it to hold on to salt and water. If this retained fluid builds up, the condition is called congestive heart failure.
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Around 77 per cent of people find annual blood pressure checks ideal for heart health, indicating a clear lack of understanding on preventive and proactive measures.