The sudden death of a Class 8 student on a school trip due to a heart attack has shocked everyone. This tragic incident of heart disease at such a young age has raised concerns among parents and health experts.

A 14-year-old student of a municipal school in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, died of a heart attack during a school trip to Imagica Theme Park in Maharashtra's Raigad district. The incident took place on Tuesday when Ayush Dharmendra Singh, a class VIII student, suddenly felt chest discomfort and sat down on a bench. Shortly after, he fell unconscious.

Teachers and park staff immediately rushed him to the primary health centre in the park, from where he was rushed to a private hospital. However, doctors declared him dead before he could reach the hospital. The postmortem conducted under the supervision of a government medical officer confirmed that the student died of a heart attack. Police have registered an accidental death report at the Khalapur police station.

Increasing concern about heart diseases in children

In recent years, heart problems are increasing rapidly not only in adults but also in young children. Experts believe that unhealthy lifestyle and wrong eating habits of children are the main reasons for this. Eating excessive amounts of junk food and processed food leads to the accumulation of plaque in the veins of children, which increases the risk of heart diseases.

These foods are no less than poison for children's heart

* Fast food and junk food : Junk foods like pizza, burger, French fries contain high amounts of saturated fat and trans fat, which can block the heart veins.

* Carbonated drinks : Cold drinks and sugary beverages contain high amounts of sugar, which increases the risk of heart disease by increasing obesity.

* Packaged snacks : Chips, instant noodles and packaged sweets contain high amounts of preservatives and salt, which give rise to blood pressure and heart problems.

* Deep fried foods : Fried foods like samosas, pakodas etc. contain high calories and trans fat, which increase cholesterol and put pressure on the heart.

* Ready-to-eat meals : Processed and frozen foods contain chemicals and additives, which harm heart health by increasing inflammation in the body.

What to do to prevent this?

Follow a healthy diet: Include fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats in children's diet.

Increase physical activity: Involve children in playing outdoor games and physical activities regularly.

Stay away from junk food: Give them a homemade balanced diet instead of packaged and processed food.

Regular health checkup: Get children's heart health checked from time to time, so that any problem can be detected on time.