Act Now: Heart Health Matters

Dr. Vashisth Das on World Heart Day stresses lifestyle's role in cardiac well-being

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The biggest threat today to the heart is not age or genetics — it’s our own lifestyle,” said Dr. Vashisth Das, senior cardiologist at Chinmaya Hrudayalaya, Bengaluru, sounding a clarion call on the escalating threat of heart disease, especially among India’s youth. His clear advice: adopt healthier habits and seek regular medical checkups to prevent cardiac ailments.

Dr. Das explained that risk factors for heart disease fall into two broad categories — modifiable and non-modifiable. Modifiable factors, which individuals can control, include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress.

On the other hand, non-modifiable risks such as age, gender, genetic predisposition, race, and family history lie beyond individual control but must be acknowledged to implement timely preventive measures. “A strong family history combined with unhealthy lifestyle choices can sharply increase the risk of heart disease,” he warned.