Heart disease is no longer a condition that can be viewed primarily through the lens of age. “We are increasingly seeing the importance of identifying cardiovascular risk much earlier, particularly among individuals with multiple risk factors,” said Dr. Ashish Mishra, consultant interventional cardiologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.
Mumbai’s fast-paced urban lifestyle, coupled with sedentary habits, tobacco exposure, unhealthy dietary patterns, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, abnormal cholesterol, chronic stress and inadequate sleep, is creating a growing cardiovascular risk burden—even among people who may appear healthy and symptom-free.
The concern extends beyond conventional lifestyle factors. A study assessing the health impact of particulate pollution in Mumbai estimated that 10,880 deaths annually were attributable to PM2.5 exposure in 2015, with ischemic heart disease accounting for about 33.3% of PM2.5-attributable mortality in the analysis. More recent research across Indian cities has also found that a 10 µg/m³ increase in short-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with a 1.4% increase in daily mortality, highlighting the wider health implications of urban air pollution.
According to Dr Mishra, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia can remain clinically silent while progressively affecting blood vessels and the heart. The combination of multiple risk factors can accelerate cardiovascular risk, making early identification particularly important.
“Preventive cardiology should move from a symptom-driven approach to a risk-based approach. A young person may feel completely healthy while already having several interacting cardiovascular risk factors. The objective is not to subject everyone to extensive cardiac testing, but to identify those who require earlier assessment based on their personal and family history, metabolic profile and lifestyle,” Dr Ashish Mishra, consultant interventional cardiologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road added.
Dr. Anand Ram, consultant cardiologist, Apex Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, emphasised that warning symptoms should never be dismissed, particularly when they are sudden, unusual or persistent. “Heart health should never be treated as an issue that can wait. Symptoms such as chest discomfort, breathlessness, unusual sweating, sudden fatigue or palpitations may sometimes indicate an underlying cardiac problem and should not be ignored,” said Dr. Ram.
