Jammu, Sept. 29 -- In Kashmir, younger population is experiencing heart attacks at a much higher rate, largely due to higher levels of smoking and persistent stress-making lifestyle and environment as influential as genetics, emphasizes Dr. Sudhanshu Parida, Additional Director - Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, usually due to a clot in the coronary arteries. Traditionally seen in older adults, this life-threatening condition is now increasingly affecting people as young as their 20s and 30s.

Not long ago, heart attacks were primarily a problem faced by older adults. It was rare for anyone younger than 40 to have a heart attack. Now, 1 in 5 h...