New Delhi. Although heart disease has traditionally been associated with older age, clinicians are now witnessing a sharp rise in heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrests among people in their twenties and thirties. This alarming pattern is driving a push for earlier screening and proactive prevention.
Prevention Should Begin Before Anything Goes Wrong
Renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Shriram Nene warns that waiting for a heart attack to start caring for the heart is a dangerous strategy. He emphasizes a balanced approach that includes disease prevention, early detection of warning signs, and swift medical intervention when needed.
Dr. Naresh Trehan, cardiac surgeon and chairman of Medanta, advises anyone with a family history of heart disease or diabetes to undergo cardiac screening before turning 25. Those without a known hereditary risk should discuss appropriate check‑ups with their doctor by age 30. Modern technologies such as genome sequencing can uncover inherited vulnerabilities, while physicians combine family history, laboratory results and lifestyle information to gauge overall risk.
Diet and Lifestyle Under Scrutiny
Professor Monica Arora, vice‑president of the Research and Health Promotion Division at the Public Health Foundation of India, links the growing heart‑disease burden to changing food patterns. She points out that the surge in junk and highly processed foods is displacing traditional Indian meals, eroding cardiovascular health.
All forms of tobacco—including cigarettes, gutka, and other smokeless products—remain major culprits. Vaping and nicotine addiction also pose serious threats to heart health.
Dr. Amit Gupta of the Global Metabolic Health Alliance stresses that tight control of blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight is essential. Conditions such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and fatty liver dramatically increase the likelihood of a cardiac event.
Embedding Healthy Habits Early
The rise in childhood obesity is sounding alarms across the medical community. Experts urge families to instill weight‑management practices from a young age. Regular physical activity and nutrient‑dense meals lay the foundation for a heart‑healthy life.
For older adults, routine monitoring of glucose, blood pressure and weight, strict adherence to prescribed medication, and periodic consultations with health professionals remain indispensable.
“Protecting the heart is a lifelong commitment, not a reaction to an emergency,” the specialists conclude.
