Young, fit… & at risk

Strap: Doctors warn Bangalore’s youth face soaring heart attack cases, driven by stress, poor sleep, and lifestyle choices

 

Blurb:

Heart attacks, once seen primarily among the elderly, are increasingly affecting the young — a sharp rise in cases among adults under 40 has doctors alarmed 

 

Byline: Bindu Gopal Rao

When 28-year-old data scientist Kiran Kumar* experienced discomfort in his chest, he went for a routine checkup that revealed an 80% block in his heart artery that needed a stent. Shocked, he went for a second opinion that confirmed the same, and soon he underwent an angioplasty. This is even though he had a healthy lifestyle, a good body mass index, and a regular exercise schedule. Kumar, however, is lucky he chose medical help. Many others, do not and drop dead suddenly.

 

Rising cases

Bangalore is witnessing a rise in heart attack cases among young adults, with doctors pointing to lifestyle factors — from fast food and smoking to alcohol use and lack of exercise — as key risks.

Dr Sanjay Bhat, Senior Consultant – Interventional Cardiology at Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore, said rising stress from work, studies, and personal life was taking a toll on young hearts. Long hours of sitting and poor sleep, he noted, were further weakening them.

“In some cases, genetic factors also play a role. The easy availability of unhealthy food, less physical activity, and constant stress together make heart attacks more common among the younger generation today,” Dr Bhat said. He added that obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes were showing up earlier than before, increasing risks.

Heart attacks, once seen primarily among the elderly, are increasingly affecting the young — a sharp rise in cases among adults under 40 over the past four to five years has doctors alarmed. Hospital data from across India between 2022 and 2023 shows that those below 40 accounted for nearly half of all heart attack cases.

Dr Divya Marina Fernandes, Consultant – Heart Failure Specialist & Interventional Cardiologist, said mental health was a significant factor, with young professionals in urban areas especially vulnerable. “Longer working hours, irregular sleep cycles, and sedentary lifestyles contribute to the early onset of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic stress, all of which raise cardiovascular risks,” she noted.

 

Watch out

Warning signs of a heart attack are often overlooked in young people, doctors caution. The most common symptom is chest pain or pressure that feels heavy, tight, or burning, which can sometimes be mistaken for indigestion. The pain may radiate to the arm, neck, jaw, or back.

Dr Keshava R, HOD & Consultant – Cardiology at Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore, said many patients only seek help when classic symptoms such as chest tightness or heaviness appear. “It can sometimes feel like indigestion and spread down the arm or up to the jaw,” he explained.

Other red flags include sudden breathlessness, dizziness, blackouts, or unusual fatigue. “Any of these symptoms, particularly when they appear suddenly, must be taken seriously and require immediate medical attention to prevent life-threatening complications,” Dr Keshava warned.

 

Prevention cues

Heart attacks can often be prevented with early lifestyle changes. A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, along with less fried or processed food, helps protect the heart. Doctors add that regular exercise — walking, running, cycling, or yoga — boosts blood flow and lowers stress.

Dr Manjunath D, Consultant – Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals, Jayanagar, Bangalore, says, “Some ways to prevent heart attacks are stress reduction by having a good circle of friends, adequate night sleep, daily exercise, eating predominantly home food and regular health check-ups to check for diabetes and high cholesterol.”

Along with lifestyle changes, doctors stress that awareness plays a key role in preventing heart attacks. Young people, they say, should know their family’s medical history, as heart disease can run in families, and pay closer attention to their own health. Rising obesity — including sarcopenic obesity, where poor muscle mass accompanies excess fat — and poorly managed hypertension are emerging risks among the young. Waist-hip ratio and whole-body DEXA scans are among the tools used to detect and monitor such conditions.

Dr Deepak Padmanabhan, Senior Consultant and Strategic Lead – Cardiac EP Collegium at Narayana Health, Bangalore, warned that hypertension remains one of the biggest threats.

“A recent analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine showed hypertension as the primary contributor to shorter lifespan at age 50. Contrary to public opinion, even plaques causing only 10–20% coronary blockage can trigger a heart attack if unstable. In younger patients, this instability, combined with poorly managed hypertension and sarcopenic obesity, is driving higher heart attack rates,” he said.

Doctors add that prevention goes beyond avoiding illness — it is about building a balanced, healthy life that protects the heart in the long run.

 

BOXES –

Quit Now, Save Your Heart

• Smoking, including bidis, doubles heart attack risk
• India has 100 million smokers
• Quit with nicotine patches or apps
• Limit alcohol: 1 drink/day for women, 2 for men

Stress Busters That Work

• Bangalore deadlines + traffic jams = spiked cortisol
• Meditate or breathe deeply for 10 minutes daily
• Even a 5% weight loss lowers BP and cholesterol
• Obesity in India has doubled since 2010

Know Your Numbers

• Normal BP: 120/80 mmHg
• LDL cholesterol should stay below 70 mg/dL
• Regular check-ups catch silent threats
• Statins, beta-blockers cut heart attack risk by 25%

Don’t Miss the Signs

• Heart attack isn’t always chest pain
• Jaw pain, nausea, or back pain = warning signs, esp. in women
• Get emergency help if symptoms last — it can save your life