Silent Cause of Heart Attack: The risk of heart attack is often so silent that it goes undetected even with an ECG. The recent death of a 53-year-old neurosurgeon from a heart attack confirmed this.

Dr. Chandrashekhar Pakhmode, a renowned neurosurgeon from Nagpur, died of a heart attack on the morning of December 31st at the age of 53. This news is shocking because he had undergone an ECG just a few days earlier. The results were normal. Yet, around 6 a.m., he suddenly collapsed. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, but despite the best efforts of doctors, his life could not be saved.

This incident has raised a significant question: Are we overlooking some of the risk factors for heart attack that don't show up in common tests like sugar, cholesterol, ECG, and exercise? In this article, let's try to understand the silent risks of heart attack with the help of experts.

Why does the risk of heart attack increase between 3 and 6 am?

• Lack of sleep
• Cholesterol suddenly increases
• Decreases sugar in the body
• Stress hormone levels increase

Stress poses the greatest risk
Bengaluru cardiologist Dr. Ranjan Shetty, speaking with The Indian Express, said that the major causes of heart attacks among doctors and professionals are chronic stress, overwork, insufficient sleep, and burnout. Stress increases inflammation in the body, weakening the heart's arteries and causing fat to accumulate.

Left Main Artery Risk
If there is a severe blockage in the left main artery, or LAD artery, large parts of the heart are deprived of blood and oxygen. This can cause heart rhythm disturbances and lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Why heart attacks at 6 a.m.?
Between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol increase rapidly in the body. This increases heart rate and blood pressure. The risk of blood clots is also higher during this time, increasing the risk of heart attacks.

Does an ECG tell the truth?
An ECG often misses early or hidden problems. Sometimes, even if there is a blockage in the veins, the ECG may be normal. In such cases, blood tests like troponin may be more helpful.

 PC:Hindinews18