Most heart attacks or coronary artery disease (or ischemic heart disease) are not genetic. In India, there has been an increase in diabetes, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, tobacco consumption, and unhealthy diet. Stress, poor sleep, pollution, and working at odd hours also add to that risk. Young Individuals are at greater risk. Young people are especially at risk of these factors, as they are exposed to them at earlier ages, resulting there a spike in heart attack cases.
Adhering to risk factors is the best prevention. That means regular health checkups, starting at an earlier age if possible, and monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. It’s important to make healthy lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, eating healthfully, exercising regularly, managing their weight, and getting enough sleep. Promoting prevention-oriented behaviors among young individuals is important for decreasing their risk of future CVD.
Young Indians often misread heart attack signs as some minor problems, and they tend to avoid taking serious measures or early screenings and medications. Symptoms like chest heaviness is often mistaken for acidity, Jaw and shoulder pain is always seen as a muscle strain, Breathlessness which is always blamed on low fitness of an individual, Fatigue and nausea seen as stress or gastritis. These subtle warnings should never be ignored. Prioritizing daily movements, eating a healthy diet, managing stress through yoga and routine screenings like BP, blood sugar level, and cholesterol is a must for an individual from their 20s onwards.
It also depends on the genetic predisposition and its interaction with the lifestyle factors. A genetically vulnerable individual who would daily eat high carb foods, high fat processed food are more prone to developing diseases like diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidaemia at a much earlier age. In addition to this as mentioned earlier the sedentary lifestyles makes it much more difficult for individuals as the smaller coronary arteries in Indians are more likely to clog without regular exercises and physical activities. Moreover, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline aggravate these issues by causing the increase in blood sugar and blood pressure.
Prevention begins with awareness. People need to know that heart attacks are no longer just for the elderly; even young people can have one. We need to educate patients about lifestyle modification and healthier food options, stress-relieving techniques, and the harm of smoking and inactivity. Preventive screening tests and early interventions can have a huge impact. In the end, the best defence against the emerging tide of heart disease is prevention, as proactive measures combined with regular tracking of health indicators can help prevent disease before it even starts.
Read the full story that first appeared in Our Bangalore dated Sep 13-19, 2025 here:
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