Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Why Are More Indians Prone To Heart Attack?

<span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/heart-attack">Heart attack</a></span>s have become a common phenomenon. Earlier, it was associated with old age, however, now it is striking more and more young ones. In India, this has raised a major health issue, with 50% of heart attack reported in patients below the age of 40 between 2020 and 2023, as per Dr Ravi Prakash, a senior consultant in cardiology in PSRI Hospital, who cited data from across hospitals. Geetanjali Hospital, Udaipur also reported the same statistics, in fact as per Apollo Hospitals, every minute, about four Indians in the age group of 30 to 50 years experience fatal heart attacks. The hospital website also notes that Indian gets heart attacks 8 to 10 years before any other ethnic group across the world. 

<h4>What Makes Indians More Vulnerable To Heart Attack At A Younger Age?</h4>

What makes Indians more prone to heart attacks—and that too at a younger age? Research suggests a distinct pattern of dyslipidemia (abnormal fat levels in the blood) that, when combined with a natural tendency toward insulin resistance, often leads to early-onset diabetes. Additional contributing factors include smoking, use of other tobacco products, and hypertension. Genetics also play a significant role, with familial hypercholesterolemia being a common cause of premature heart disease in the Indian population.

The impact of today’s fast-paced lifestyle further intensifies this vulnerability. High mental and physical stress—driven by job-related competition and pressure—leads many to adopt harmful habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, both of which are known risk factors for heart disease. A sedentary lifestyle, coupled with insufficient sleep, only compounds these risks.

Dr Rohit Sane, who is the CEO &amp; Managing Director at Madhavbaug Hospitals said that the reason is not a sudden illness, but lifestyle habits, as was also reported by IndiaTV. 

He also pointed out four hidden factors which could make young people in India more vulnerable to heart attacks:

<h4>Chronic Stress: A Silent Strain on the Heart</h4>

Modern life is fast-paced, competitive, and often isolating. Unlike earlier times, where joint families and strong communities provided emotional support, today’s environment leaves many young people juggling pressures from work, social media, and family life — often with little space to breathe.

This constant emotional stress quietly affects both the body and mind. Stress hormones raise blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and they trigger inflammation in blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks over time. Many don’t realise the toll it has taken until warning signs appear — sometimes too late.

<h4>Processed Foods: A Hidden Threat in Everyday Diets</h4>

The comfort of fresh, home-cooked meals is increasingly being replaced by fast food, packaged snacks, and sugary beverages. These ultra-processed foods are often packed with trans fats, refined sugars, and artificial additives.

Beyond just adding weight, these foods fuel chronic inflammation in the body, quietly damaging artery walls and promoting plaque buildup and clot formation. Over time, this can narrow or block blood flow to the heart, raising the risk of heart attacks — even among those in their 30s.

<h4>Lack of Sleep: Skipping Nature’s Recovery Window</h4>

Sleep is essential for the body’s repair and reset. Yet, job demands, binge-watching, and screen addiction mean many young adults rarely get the recommended seven to eight hours of rest.

Inadequate sleep disrupts the body's internal rhythm, alters hormones, and elevates stress levels. It also impairs how the body handles sugar and fats, increasing the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol. Skipping sleep regularly is akin to ignoring basic maintenance for the body’s most vital system.

<h4>Misplaced Fitness Priorities: Fit Bodies, Stressed Hearts</h4>

Fitness trends today often revolve around aesthetics — six-packs, sculpted arms, and social media-ready bodies. But genuine health isn’t just skin deep. True <span>heart health</span> relies on endurance, flexibility, and nervous system balance.

Excessive training without adequate rest, imbalanced routines, or ignoring holistic exercises like yoga, swimming, or brisk walking can put added strain on the heart. Fitness should be about long-term well-being, not just surface-level transformation.

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Heart attacks have become a common phenomenon. Earlier, it was associated with old age, however, now it is striking more and more young ones. In India, this has raised a major health issue, with 50% of heart attack reported in patients below the age of 40 between 2020 and 2023, as per Dr Ravi Prakash, a senior consultant in cardiology in PSRI Hospital, who cited data from across hospitals. Geetanjali Hospital, Udaipur also reported the same statistics, in fact as per Apollo Hospitals, every minute, about four Indians in the age group of 30 to 50 years experience fatal heart attacks. The hospital website also notes that Indian gets heart attacks 8 to 10 years before any other ethnic group across the world. What Makes Indians More Vulnerable To Heart Attack At A Younger Age?What makes Indians more prone to heart attacks—and that too at a younger age? Research suggests a distinct pattern of dyslipidemia (abnormal fat levels in the blood) that, when combined with a natural tendency toward insulin resistance, often leads to early-onset diabetes. Additional contributing factors include smoking, use of other tobacco products, and hypertension. Genetics also play a significant role, with familial hypercholesterolemia being a common cause of premature heart disease in the Indian population.The impact of today’s fast-paced lifestyle further intensifies this vulnerability. High mental and physical stress—driven by job-related competition and pressure—leads many to adopt harmful habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, both of which are known risk factors for heart disease. A sedentary lifestyle, coupled with insufficient sleep, only compounds these risks.What Does The Doctor Say?Dr Rohit Sane, who is the CEO & Managing Director at Madhavbaug Hospitals said that the reason is not a sudden illness, but lifestyle habits, as was also reported by IndiaTV. He also pointed out four hidden factors which could make young people in India more vulnerable to heart attacks:Chronic Stress: A Silent Strain on the HeartModern life is fast-paced, competitive, and often isolating. Unlike earlier times, where joint families and strong communities provided emotional support, today’s environment leaves many young people juggling pressures from work, social media, and family life — often with little space to breathe.This constant emotional stress quietly affects both the body and mind. Stress hormones raise blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and they trigger inflammation in blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attacks over time. Many don’t realise the toll it has taken until warning signs appear — sometimes too late.Processed Foods: A Hidden Threat in Everyday DietsThe comfort of fresh, home-cooked meals is increasingly being replaced by fast food, packaged snacks, and sugary beverages. These ultra-processed foods are often packed with trans fats, refined sugars, and artificial additives.Beyond just adding weight, these foods fuel chronic inflammation in the body, quietly damaging artery walls and promoting plaque buildup and clot formation. Over time, this can narrow or block blood flow to the heart, raising the risk of heart attacks — even among those in their 30s.Lack of Sleep: Skipping Nature’s Recovery WindowSleep is essential for the body’s repair and reset. Yet, job demands, binge-watching, and screen addiction mean many young adults rarely get the recommended seven to eight hours of rest.Inadequate sleep disrupts the body's internal rhythm, alters hormones, and elevates stress levels. It also impairs how the body handles sugar and fats, increasing the risk of diabetes and high cholesterol. Skipping sleep regularly is akin to ignoring basic maintenance for the body’s most vital system.Misplaced Fitness Priorities: Fit Bodies, Stressed HeartsFitness trends today often revolve around aesthetics — six-packs, sculpted arms, and social media-ready bodies. But genuine health isn’t just skin deep. True heart health relies on endurance, flexibility, and nervous system balance.Excessive training without adequate rest, imbalanced routines, or ignoring holistic exercises like yoga, swimming, or brisk walking can put added strain on the heart. Fitness should be about long-term well-being, not just surface-level transformation.

why are more indians prone to heart attack?

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Our sleep health plays a much bigger role in keeping our bodies running than you may know. It can affect our gut health, mental health, as well as other aspects of our body. Most people think that losing sleep means they will be tired, have less attention, may be short-tempered etc., nothing too bad and believe it is something they can recover soon enough in the next night’s sleep. However, it is not that simple or easy! A 2016 study published in the Scientific Reports Journal showed that it can take 4 days' worth sleep to recover one hour of lost sleep. 

So, how worse can sleep deprivation be? And how long before it starts affecting your body? 

A study published in the journal Biomarker Research looked into how not getting enough sleep affects our bodies, particularly our heart health. They found that even a few bad nights of sleep can quickly lead to changes in your body that are linked to heart problems. 

In this study, researchers compared what happened to people's bodies after nights of poor sleep versus nights of healthy sleep. Sixteen young, healthy men participated. Each man spent two separate three-night periods in a sleep lab. 

<strong>Restricted Sleep:</strong> In one session, they got very little sleep, averaging only about 4.25 hours per night for three nights. 

<strong>Normal Sleep: </strong>In another session, they got a healthy amount of sleep, averaging about 8.5 hours per night for three nights. 

Throughout the study, researchers took blood samples in the mornings and evenings. They also had the men do 30-minute high-intensity exercise sessions and took blood samples before and after. They then checked for levels of 88 different proteins in the blood that are known to be related to heart disease. 

<h2>How Poor Sleep Affects Your Body </h2>

After analyzing the blood samples, the researchers discovered that even just three nights of not enough sleep were enough to change the men's blood chemistry. 

Levels of proteins linked to a higher risk of heart disease and inflammation went up after just three nights of poor sleep. This shows how quickly your body can react negatively to a lack of rest. 

<h4>Exercise Helps, But Doesn't Fix It </h4>

While exercise did have some positive effects on protein levels, it wasn't enough to completely cancel out the harm caused by not sleeping enough. Even with exercise, participants still showed increased levels of 16 proteins associated with heart disease. 

The study points out that even young, healthy people can experience these biological changes from short-term sleep loss. This really highlights why it's important to be aware of how even just a few nights of poor sleep can affect your heart. The researchers also mentioned that more studies are needed to see how short-term sleep restriction affects older adults and women. 

For those looking to improve their sleep and avoid these harmful changes in the body, experts' advise trying to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day, even on weekends. You must also avoid caffeine and alcohol later in the day. Don't use electronic devices right before bed. Limit long naps during the day. Make sure to exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet. 

sleep and heart health

how much lack of sleep affect the heart

how to recover lost sleep

sleep hygiene

Sleep health and heart

Lack of sleep can harm your heart

Our sleep health plays a much bigger role in keeping our bodies running than you may know. It can affect our gut health, mental health, as well as other aspects of our body. Most people think that losing sleep means they will be tired, have less attention, may be short-tempered etc., nothing too bad and believe it is something they can recover soon enough in the next night’s sleep. However, it is not that simple or easy! A 2016 study published in the Scientific Reports Journal showed that it can take 4 days' worth sleep to recover one hour of lost sleep. So, how worse can sleep deprivation be? And how long before it starts affecting your body? A study published in the journal Biomarker Research looked into how not getting enough sleep affects our bodies, particularly our heart health. They found that even a few bad nights of sleep can quickly lead to changes in your body that are linked to heart problems. Bad Sleep vs. Good Sleep In this study, researchers compared what happened to people's bodies after nights of poor sleep versus nights of healthy sleep. Sixteen young, healthy men participated. Each man spent two separate three-night periods in a sleep lab. Restricted Sleep: In one session, they got very little sleep, averaging only about 4.25 hours per night for three nights. Normal Sleep: In another session, they got a healthy amount of sleep, averaging about 8.5 hours per night for three nights. Throughout the study, researchers took blood samples in the mornings and evenings. They also had the men do 30-minute high-intensity exercise sessions and took blood samples before and after. They then checked for levels of 88 different proteins in the blood that are known to be related to heart disease. How Poor Sleep Affects Your Body After analyzing the blood samples, the researchers discovered that even just three nights of not enough sleep were enough to change the men's blood chemistry. Inflammation and Heart Risk Levels of proteins linked to a higher risk of heart disease and inflammation went up after just three nights of poor sleep. This shows how quickly your body can react negatively to a lack of rest. Exercise Helps, But Doesn't Fix It While exercise did have some positive effects on protein levels, it wasn't enough to completely cancel out the harm caused by not sleeping enough. Even with exercise, participants still showed increased levels of 16 proteins associated with heart disease. The study points out that even young, healthy people can experience these biological changes from short-term sleep loss. This really highlights why it's important to be aware of how even just a few nights of poor sleep can affect your heart. The researchers also mentioned that more studies are needed to see how short-term sleep restriction affects older adults and women. Tips for Better Sleep For those looking to improve their sleep and avoid these harmful changes in the body, experts' advise trying to go to bed and wake up at roughly the same time every day, even on weekends. You must also avoid caffeine and alcohol later in the day. Don't use electronic devices right before bed. Limit long naps during the day. Make sure to exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet. 

just 3 nights of poor sleep is enough to harm your heart health

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Being one of the most common cancers among women, <span>breast cancer</span> accounts for 30% of cancer cases in females every year. The American Cancer Society explains that breast cancer occurs in middle aged women and older women, the median age of diagnosis being 62 years of age. The average risk of developing breast cancer in women happen to be about 13%. Which means there is a 1 in 8 chance that a woman can develop breast cancer. 

The best cure is prevention, and a new study shows that screening for breast cancer is the best way to tackle the disease. While there are treatments after diagnosis, they not only drastically decrease the quality of life a person is used to, but they must also go through a grueling process, with less chances of survival. One of the best ways to increase your chances of survival in breast cancer is to catch it early. However, by the time symptoms start appearing, the cancer has usually spread, which makes treating it much more difficult. 

The study, published recently in Radiology Imaging Cancer, found that almost three out of four women (73%) in their 40s only discover they have breast cancer after symptoms appear. This is a significant problem because these women are less likely to survive compared to those whose cancer is found early through screening methods like mammography. 

For instance, the study showed that women diagnosed due to symptoms were six times more likely to have advanced cancer, which is much harder to treat. Researchers noted that the results show patients whose breast cancers were detected because of symptoms had a 63% higher likelihood of dying. 

To conduct the study, researchers tracked 821 women aged 40 and older who were diagnosed with breast cancer at The Ottawa Hospital in 2016.

They found that half of these patients (50%) were diagnosed because of symptoms (like a noticeable lump, skin or nipple changes, nipple discharge, swollen lymph nodes, or breast pain), rather than through early detection by a mammogram. 

The study revealed that breast cancers detected by symptoms, rather than screening, were much more common in: 

<ul><li>Women in their 40s, accounting for 73% of cases.</li><li>Women older than 75, with about 70% discovering cancer after symptoms appeared.</li><li>The researchers also reported that deaths were higher among patients whose breast cancer wasn't caught early through screening.</li></ul>

<h2>Shifting Guidelines for Mammograms </h2>

This research comes at a time when both the U.S. and Canada are re-evaluating the best age for women to begin regular mammograms. 

Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendations to suggest breast cancer screening every two years for women aged 40 to 75. 

Similarly, the American Cancer Society now advises women aged 45 to 54 to get annual mammograms, with the option for women in their early 40s to start screening if they choose. 

Experts noted that this difference in guidelines can impact how long Canadian women might live with undetected breast cancer. She observed a concerning trend in her own practice, seeing many women under 50 and over 75 being diagnosed only after developing symptoms. 

These study results will likely bolster the push to lower the breast cancer screening age to 40 in both the U.S. and Canada. Experts mentioned that many provincial and territorial screening programs in Canada have already lowered the screening age, with a goal to establish a single national policy for screening. 

Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Screenings For Women

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Breast cancer treatment

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Being one of the most common cancers among women, breast cancer accounts for 30% of cancer cases in females every year. The American Cancer Society explains that breast cancer occurs in middle aged women and older women, the median age of diagnosis being 62 years of age. The average risk of developing breast cancer in women happen to be about 13%. Which means there is a 1 in 8 chance that a woman can develop breast cancer. The best cure is prevention, and a new study shows that screening for breast cancer is the best way to tackle the disease. While there are treatments after diagnosis, they not only drastically decrease the quality of life a person is used to, but they must also go through a grueling process, with less chances of survival. One of the best ways to increase your chances of survival in breast cancer is to catch it early. However, by the time symptoms start appearing, the cancer has usually spread, which makes treating it much more difficult. The study, published recently in Radiology Imaging Cancer, found that almost three out of four women (73%) in their 40s only discover they have breast cancer after symptoms appear. This is a significant problem because these women are less likely to survive compared to those whose cancer is found early through screening methods like mammography. For instance, the study showed that women diagnosed due to symptoms were six times more likely to have advanced cancer, which is much harder to treat. Researchers noted that the results show patients whose breast cancers were detected because of symptoms had a 63% higher likelihood of dying. Symptoms vs. Screening To conduct the study, researchers tracked 821 women aged 40 and older who were diagnosed with breast cancer at The Ottawa Hospital in 2016.They found that half of these patients (50%) were diagnosed because of symptoms (like a noticeable lump, skin or nipple changes, nipple discharge, swollen lymph nodes, or breast pain), rather than through early detection by a mammogram. The study revealed that breast cancers detected by symptoms, rather than screening, were much more common in: Women in their 40s, accounting for 73% of cases.Women older than 75, with about 70% discovering cancer after symptoms appeared.The researchers also reported that deaths were higher among patients whose breast cancer wasn't caught early through screening.Shifting Guidelines for Mammograms This research comes at a time when both the U.S. and Canada are re-evaluating the best age for women to begin regular mammograms. Last year, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendations to suggest breast cancer screening every two years for women aged 40 to 75. Similarly, the American Cancer Society now advises women aged 45 to 54 to get annual mammograms, with the option for women in their early 40s to start screening if they choose. Experts noted that this difference in guidelines can impact how long Canadian women might live with undetected breast cancer. She observed a concerning trend in her own practice, seeing many women under 50 and over 75 being diagnosed only after developing symptoms. These study results will likely bolster the push to lower the breast cancer screening age to 40 in both the U.S. and Canada. Experts mentioned that many provincial and territorial screening programs in Canada have already lowered the screening age, with a goal to establish a single national policy for screening. 

breast cancer screenings for women in 40s could be life saving

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Working in an office has its own set of problems. Work stress has become a common occurrence, to the point where it is considered something people must deal with if they wish to be employed. However, this amount of stress is not natural for the body and can cause adverse effects as stress has been shown to affect a person’s mental health, <span>heart health</span> as well as hormones. 

So how does one tackle this issue, while also not sacrificing their financial well-being? Self-employment may be the answer. Many people these days are opting for it as this helps them have their own time and freedom, while also allowing them to earn a living. 

Being your own boss might seem like it would add stress, but a new study suggests that self-employed women actually have healthier hearts than those who work for a company. 

<h2>Why <span rel="noindex">Self-Employed Women May Be Healthier</span> </h2>

Researchers recently reported in the journal BMC Public Health that women who work for themselves showed lower rates of several factors that contribute to poor heart health. These include: 

<ul><li>Obesity: Carrying too much body fat.</li><li>Physical Inactivity: Not getting enough exercise.</li><li>Poor Diet: Not eating healthy foods.</li><li>Sleeplessness: Not getting enough quality sleep.</li></ul>

These findings hint that the type of work environment someone is in could really influence their risk for heart attack and stroke. 

<h2>Link Between <span rel="noindex">Work and Heart Health</span> </h2>

Researchers explained that there's a strong connection between being self-employed and having fewer heart disease risk factors, and this link seems even stronger for women than for men. 

Experts emphasized that it's crucial to understand how our work environment impacts our health so we can create healthier workplaces for everyone. Previous studies have already shown ties between the kind of job someone has and their heart disease risk. For example, people in high-stress jobs with little control over their work have been linked to higher blood pressure and heart disease. 

For this study, researchers looked at data from nearly 20,000 working adults who participated in a large health survey between 1999 and 2018. This survey included physical exams and questions about their jobs and daily habits. 

The results clearly showed that self-employment was beneficial for heart health risks in both white women and women of color: 

White women who were self-employed had notably lower rates of obesity (7.4% lower), physical inactivity (7% lower), and poor sleep (9.4% lower). 

Women of color saw similar benefits, with lower rates of poor diet (6.7% lower), physical inactivity (7.3% lower), and poor sleep (8.1% lower). 

While it's not realistic for all women to become self-employed, the study's authors suggested that companies could learn from the positive aspects of self-employment, like increased freedom and flexibility. For example, offering flexible work schedules could give women more control over their time and potentially improve their health. 

Interestingly, white men who were self-employed also saw some benefits, such as a drop in poor diet (6.5% lower) and high blood pressure (5.7% lower). However, these same benefits weren't found for self-employed men of color. This might be because men of color often face greater challenges when starting their own businesses, like higher costs to get started, less money available, and fewer mentors to guide them. 

Heart Health

Heart Health and Self-Employment

Self-Employed Women May Be Healthier

Self-employment and health

Women's health

Work and Heart Health

Working in an office has its own set of problems. Work stress has become a common occurrence, to the point where it is considered something people must deal with if they wish to be employed. However, this amount of stress is not natural for the body and can cause adverse effects as stress has been shown to affect a person’s mental health, heart health as well as hormones. So how does one tackle this issue, while also not sacrificing their financial well-being? Self-employment may be the answer. Many people these days are opting for it as this helps them have their own time and freedom, while also allowing them to earn a living. Being your own boss might seem like it would add stress, but a new study suggests that self-employed women actually have healthier hearts than those who work for a company. Why Self-Employed Women May Be Healthier Researchers recently reported in the journal BMC Public Health that women who work for themselves showed lower rates of several factors that contribute to poor heart health. These include: Obesity: Carrying too much body fat.Physical Inactivity: Not getting enough exercise.Poor Diet: Not eating healthy foods.Sleeplessness: Not getting enough quality sleep.These findings hint that the type of work environment someone is in could really influence their risk for heart attack and stroke. Link Between Work and Heart Health Researchers explained that there's a strong connection between being self-employed and having fewer heart disease risk factors, and this link seems even stronger for women than for men. Experts emphasized that it's crucial to understand how our work environment impacts our health so we can create healthier workplaces for everyone. Previous studies have already shown ties between the kind of job someone has and their heart disease risk. For example, people in high-stress jobs with little control over their work have been linked to higher blood pressure and heart disease. What the Study Found For this study, researchers looked at data from nearly 20,000 working adults who participated in a large health survey between 1999 and 2018. This survey included physical exams and questions about their jobs and daily habits. The results clearly showed that self-employment was beneficial for heart health risks in both white women and women of color: White women who were self-employed had notably lower rates of obesity (7.4% lower), physical inactivity (7% lower), and poor sleep (9.4% lower). Women of color saw similar benefits, with lower rates of poor diet (6.7% lower), physical inactivity (7.3% lower), and poor sleep (8.1% lower). While it's not realistic for all women to become self-employed, the study's authors suggested that companies could learn from the positive aspects of self-employment, like increased freedom and flexibility. For example, offering flexible work schedules could give women more control over their time and potentially improve their health. Interestingly, white men who were self-employed also saw some benefits, such as a drop in poor diet (6.5% lower) and high blood pressure (5.7% lower). However, these same benefits weren't found for self-employed men of color. This might be because men of color often face greater challenges when starting their own businesses, like higher costs to get started, less money available, and fewer mentors to guide them. 

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Why Are More Indians Prone To Heart Attack?

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