Health Tips: Dandiya Lined up this Navratri? Get a basic heart check-up before you hit the ground; Check details

Health Tips: A few dancers have passed out recently while participating in Navratri celebrations. A 25-year-old guy suffered a heart attack in Gujarat in 2019 while participating in the garba. In Mumbai in 2022, a 30-year-old lady passed out during a dandiya performance. Many of us overlook the fact that these dances are nothing more than an extended period of vigorous physical exertion. A robust burst of activity could unintentionally result in effort and pressure on the heart, which could offer hazards if you have an undiscovered and underlying cardiac problem.

Why it’s necessary to consider heart health while dancing?

Participants in Navratri dances must participate in continuous, intense motions, similar to aerobic workouts. The heart rate and blood pressure rise during aerobic activity to satisfy the increased demand for oxygen and nutrients. So, for people with high blood pressure or underlying heart issues, any type of intensive activity, including dancing, raises blood pressure and increases the burden of the heart, potentially inducing myocardial insufficiency in those who already have coronary artery disease. The dance's constant nature raises cardiac demand.

That is why a standard, echo, and stress test is suggested before engaging in any sort of intensive exercise, especially if you have been sedentary and your body is not adapted to it.

What are the risks dancers, who have high blood pressure, face while dancing during Navratri?

Arrhythmias, which are abnormal cardiac rhythms induced by stress, effort, and dehydration, are more likely. This causes an anomaly in electric impulses and causes the heart to stop. This is known as a cardiac arrest. Blood flow is directed away from the heart and towards the working muscles during aerobic activity. This can restrict the quantity of blood and oxygen accessible to the heart, particularly in people who have coronary artery disease.

Navratri dances may raise the risk of blood clots in those who have hypercoagulability (an elevated ability to produce blood clots) or atrial fibrillation (a kind of arrhythmia). Sleep deprivation, which prevents muscle recovery, and dehydration due to sweating are other risk factors.

What should we keep in mind while dancing?

During Navratri dances, participants must be cognizant of their physical limitations. Fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, or an irregular heartbeat should not be overlooked. If any of these symptoms appear, it is critical to stop, rehydrate, and contact a doctor. Adequate water is essential during the Navratri dance to avoid dehydration, coagulation, and regular blood flow. Before, during, and after dancing, drink plenty of water. Taking regular rests, especially when weary or out of breath, aids in heart rate management and ensures the heart is not overworked. Additionally, choosing dance routines that are appropriate for one's fitness level and consulting a healthcare practitioner before engaging in vigorous dances will help to ensure a heart-healthy Navratri celebration.

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