India’s heart health crisis is emerging earlier, warns nationwide study
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India is witnessing a growing heart health crisis that is now beginning as early as the 20s, according to a new nationwide study released on World Heart Day.
The findings point to sedentary lifestyles, processed diets, and metabolic stress as major drivers of early cardiovascular risks.
The study analyzed 3.9 lakh lipid profile tests conducted over the past year and revealed alarming trends. One in four people showed abnormal cholesterol levels, with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), often called "good cholesterol," emerging as the most common risk factor. In fact, 35% of participants had low HDL, a condition strongly linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Other markers were equally concerning.
Around 30% of individuals had elevated total cholesterol, while 33% showed abnormal triglyceride levels, both strong predictors of cardiovascular disease. Nearly 60% of these tests came from people between 31 and 60 years old, and within this age group, cholesterol and triglyceride abnormalities were particularly high.
What is even more alarming is that risk factors once associated with older adults are now appearing in younger generations. More than one in three young adults aged 19–30 already have low HDL, and nearly 17% show borderline high cholesterol levels.
The study emphasised that cardiovascular disease is no longer a problem confined to older age groups. Risks are quietly building across all ages, including those who appear outwardly healthy. Sedentary behavior, stress, poor diet quality, and lack of physical activity are identified as the key contributors.
Experts behind the study stressed the urgent need to move away from treating heart attacks after they occur and focus instead on prevention. Regular lipid profile testing, timely medical intervention, and lifestyle modifications such as healthier diets, physical activity, and stress management can help identify risks long before symptoms appear.
Public health messaging, the study suggested, should also shift beyond weight management and embrace a broader focus on heart health. Preventive care, regular monitoring, and greater awareness can play a crucial role in reducing India’s growing burden of heart disease.
