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Nagpur, India – December 31, 2023 – The sudden death of Dr. Chandrashekhar Pakhmode, a renowned neurosurgeon, at age 53 is prompting a critical look at heart attack risk factors beyond the usual suspects like blood sugar and cholesterol. Could somthing more subtle-and potentially more hazardous-have been at play, even in a man who appeared outwardly healthy?
The Silent Threat: Stress and the Modern Heart
Table of Contents
A seemingly fit and healthy doctor collapses from a heart attack despite a recent clean bill of health. What are the hidden dangers?
- Stress, long work hours, and burnout are meaningful risk factors for heart attacks, especially among doctors.
- A blockage in the left main artery is particularly dangerous, potentially leading to rapid heart muscle damage or death.
- Even with normal test results, chronic stress can weaken blood vessels and increase the risk of plaque buildup.
- The body’s hormonal surges in the early morning can exacerbate heart risks.
- Routine ECGs may not always detect early stages of heart artery blockage.
Dr. Pakhmode collapsed at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, despite being rushed to the hospital and receiving intensive care, he could not be revived. What’s particularly striking is that he was known to be fitness-conscious and had passed an electrocardiogram (ECG) just days prior. This raises a crucial question: what warning signs are we missing when we focus solely on customary markers of heart health?
The Doctor’s Dilemma: A Profession at Risk
Dr. Ranjan Shetty,lead cardiologist and medical director at Sparsh Hospital in Bengaluru,has observed a troubling pattern. “I’ve seen many doctors suffer heart attacks primarily because of stress, long hours at work, less sleep, and burnouts,” he explains. “All other factors being normal, this one factor is the greatest risk trigger among doctors and is the primary reason why most of them have either heart attacks or sudden cardiac arrest.”
A severe blockage in the left main artery, or the Left Anterior Descending (LAD) artery-a major vessel supplying the front of the heart-is especially perilous. “if ther is a serious heart blockage in the left main artery…then that becomes extremely dangerous due to the large amount of muscle affected, often leading to significant damage or death,” Dr. shetty said.
A: Yes. Chronic stress leads to inflammation,weakening blood vessels and promoting plaque buildup. The body’s stress response also elevates blood pressure and cholesterol, further increasing risk.
The Danger of a Left Main Artery Blockage
A complete blockage of the left main artery cuts off roughly 50 percent of the oxygenated blood supply to a critical portion of the heart muscle, causing significant damage. This can also disrupt the heart’s electrical signals, leading to arrhythmia and potentially sudden cardiac arrest-when the heart abruptly stops beating.
