Indian teenager discovered method to diagnose silent heart attacks

Indian teenager discovered method to diagnose silent heart attacks

New Delhi (Web Desk): An Indian teenager has developed a detecting technique for so-called "silent" heart attacks.

15 or 16 years old, Akash Manoj, is a student in Tamil Nadu and discovered a method of analyzing a specific protein in the blood that can determine if a patient is at risk.

Akash Manoj told that he was inspired after his grandfather suffered a heart attack and it is thought the advance could save many lives.

Akash told, "Silent heart attacks are extremely deadly and alarmingly common these days. In these cases, almost no symptoms are evident and thus people look so healthy to us," he added, "My grandfather also looked healthy but one day he collapsed following a sudden heart attack."

According to research, the technique involves analyzing the presence of a protein, FABP3, in the blood, without puncturing the skin.

As FAB3 has a negative charge it attracts to positive charges, a property Akash utilised in the detection process. UV light is passed through the skin and a sensor detects the amount of protein present.

For this great discovery Akash has been honoured and has been invited to partake in the "Innovation Scholars In-Residence Programme".