Teenager Dies Of Heart Attack on School Trip; Foods Youngsters Must Avoid for Cardiac Health

A class eight student died of a heart attack while on a school trip in Navi Mumbai, according to the doctors treating him. This tragic incident of heart disease at such a young age has raised concerns among parents and health experts.

The 14-year-old student at a municipal school in Ghansoli was enjoying himself with his classmates at the Imagica Theme Park in Maharashtra's Raigad district when he suddenly felt chest discomfort and sat down on a bench. Eyewitness accounts say shortly after, he fell unconscious.

While his teachers and the park staff rushed him to first a nearby primary health center and then to a private hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival. Later, a postmortem was also conducted, confirming a heart attack.

In recent years, there have been increased cases of heart attacks among youngsters and adolescents, which according to doctors is a cause of concern.

Lifestyle factors play a crucial role in heart issues and experts believe a lack of regular workouts along with bad dietary habits like eating junk food and processed foods is the main cause behind the increase in numbers.

According to experts, it is imperative to instill the importance of being healthy among children, which starts with choosing a healthy diet. Because the process of cholesterol deposition begins in the first decade of life. Make the kids eat home-cooked meals along with fruits and vegetables, which are packed with nourishing nutrients.

According to doctors, a few foods that kids should completely avoid include:

Pizza, burgers, and French fries contain high amounts of saturated fat and trans fat, which can block the heart veins.

Cold drinks and sugary beverages are packed with high amounts of sugar, which increases the risk of heart disease by increasing obesity.

Chips and instant noodles are loaded with preservatives and salt, which give rise to blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Fried foods like samosas, pakoras, etc. are delicious but contain high calories and trans-fat, which increase cholesterol and put pressure on the heart.

Processed and frozen foods contain chemicals and additives, which harm heart health by increasing inflammation in the body.

To help keep your child’s heart healthy and free of diseases, make sure to teach them these important tips:

Whether they get workouts from sports, active play, or biking and walking, it all helps their heart. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children over the age of six years should get at least 60 minutes of exercise daily.

Obesity is a huge issue with children these days. Carrying extra weight can make your heart work harder—damaging heart muscles. Higher body weight also contributes to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes—three conditions linked with heart disease.

As a parent, it is important to help keep your kids away from all kinds of stress. Chronic stress can cause plaque buildup in the arteries, boosting risks for heart attack, heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms.

Make sure to help them relax with yoga, meditation, journaling, or reading daily to help them become stress-free.

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