Source :NEWS18 NEWS
Last Updated:May 17, 2025, 14:40 IST
The Apollo Health of the Nation report also put a spotlight on the silent health crisis brewing in India’s student population
The Apollo Health of the Nation 2025 Report makes this clear: 26% of over 4.5 lakh individuals screened were found to have hypertension, many of them asymptomatic and under 40
A younger generation at risk: India’s cardiac health narrative is undergoing a seismic shift. Once considered a disease of the middle-aged and elderly, heart conditions are now showing up alarmingly early—among those in their 20s and 30s. The Apollo Health of the Nation 2025 Report makes this clear: 26% of over 4.5 lakh individuals screened were found to have hypertension, many of them asymptomatic and under 40.
This is not just a public health red flag—it’s a generational wake-up call. Today’s Gen Z and millennial Indians are not just inheriting genetic risks; they are living in an environment where stress, sedentary lifestyles, processed diets, and digital overload are accelerating cardiovascular risk like never before. Dr Sanjeevkumar Kalkekar, Sr Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease & Rhythm Disorder Specialist, National Trainer for Leadless Pacemaker, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai shares all you need to know:
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Atherosclerosis without symptoms: The ticking time bomb
One of the most alarming revelations from the report is that 46% of asymptomatic individuals already show signs of early atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in arteries that leads to heart attacks and strokes. These are people who feel perfectly healthy. Yet, beneath the surface, their arteries are already under siege.
This should force a hard rethink of India’s cardiac care model. Waiting for symptoms to appear before initiating care is no longer viable. The disease is stealthy, often setting in silently over years, and by the time symptoms emerge, much of the damage is already done.
We must shift to a “prevention-first” approach rooted in early detection, risk screening, and continuous monitoring—starting from young adulthood.
Redesigning India’s heart health model
India’s current healthcare system is still heavily reactive. Most people seek medical attention only after they fall ill. But in an era where disease begins quietly and decades earlier, this model is dangerously outdated. We must move from episodic treatment to predictive care.
This means introducing vascular screenings, cholesterol and glucose tests, and blood pressure monitoring into routine health checkups for those even in their 20s and early 30s. It also means encouraging insurers to cover preventive diagnostics and empowering employers to roll out workplace wellness programs that are rooted in data, not just tokenism.
What the data says about student health
The Apollo Health of the Nation report also put a spotlight on the silent health crisis brewing in India’s student population. 9% of high school students and 19% of college students were found to be pre-hypertensive—staggering numbers for an age group presumed to be healthy.
The health of our youth is being compromised early—by long hours of screen time, poor dietary habits, mental health stressors, and lack of physical activity. These findings indicate that early lifestyle patterns are laying the groundwork for chronic diseases. If left unaddressed, we are looking at an entire generation grappling with cardiac issues in their prime years.
The metabolic clock is ticking, especially for women
The report also flags the growing incidence of metabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia post-menopause, pointing to a strong link between hormonal changes, weight gain, and insulin resistance.
However, this shouldn’t be seen as a problem that begins at 50. For many women, the shift starts much earlier, especially among those with PCOS, thyroid imbalances, or early weight fluctuations. The intersection between hormonal health and heart health must become a priority—particularly in how we monitor, diagnose, and treat young women.
Why awareness must begin in your 20s, not your 40s
The idea that cardiac care begins at 40 is outdated. When blood pressure and arterial damage are surfacing in one’s 20s, prevention must begin earlier. That means more than just annual health camps or checkups. It means embedding heart health literacy into school and college curriculums, advocating for regular screenings for young professionals, and making diagnostics as routine as a vision test.
This isn’t just a healthcare issue—it’s a cultural one. Society must embrace the idea that prevention is power, not paranoia. We don’t wait for cavities before brushing our teeth. So why wait for heart disease to take root before we take action?
What employers and insurers must do
Workplaces and insurance providers must play a more proactive role. Currently, most workplace wellness programs do not go beyond yoga classes and one-off checkups. But in reality, young professionals are facing chronic stress, long sedentary hours, poor sleep, and erratic eating patterns—all of which directly impact heart health.
Employers should integrate evidence-based screening programs, subsidize cardiac tests for those under 35, and tailor mental wellness programs to address burnout. Insurance providers, meanwhile, need to move from treatment-centric models to prevention-driven plans—by covering diagnostics like lipid profiles, calcium scoring, and vascular screenings for younger age groups.
Time to listen to the silent signals
Many young Indians still don’t perceive themselves to be at risk. But heart disease in the modern era doesn’t always come with chest pain or breathlessness. Sometimes it comes with fatigue, irritability, insomnia, or just a higher-than-normal blood pressure reading. The body whispers long before it screams.
The Apollo Health of the Nation Report doesn’t just offer data. It offers a stark reminder: our window to intervene is earlier than we ever imagined. And it is shrinking. We must replace complacency with curiosity, ignorance with insight. Because heart health isn’t just about beating disease—it’s about beating the odds.
- First Published:
May 17, 2025, 14:40 IST
SOURCE : NEWS 18
