Silent epidemic: Rising heart ailments in young Indians
The recent passing of actor Shefali Jariwala at just 42 from cardiac arrest has put the spotlight on a growing issue—heart disease is hitting younger Indians more than ever.
According to Ayushman Bharat, over 1.05 lakh people have needed angioplasty, costing ₹1,051 crore, showing heart problems aren't limited to the wealthy or older generations.
Rates of coronary heart disease have jumped since the 1960s
Since the 1960s, coronary heart disease rates have jumped from around 1% to nearly 10% in cities and up to 6% in rural areas.
Doctors are seeing way more young adults with heart issues—some hospitals report five times as many cases now.
With lifestyle risks making up over a quarter of India's health burden and sales of heart meds almost doubling recently, it's clear this is something our generation needs to pay attention to.