Heart Diseases

"Heart disease" is an umbrella term for the many conditions that can affect the heart. It is the leading cause of death in India and worldwide. Understanding the major groups helps you recognise symptoms early and act in time.

Main groups

• Coronary artery disease — narrowing of heart arteries; causes angina and heart attacks.
• Heart failure — the heart pumps too weakly or fills too stiffly.
• Arrhythmias — abnormal rhythms like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia.
• Heart valve disease — leaky or narrowed valves; often from rheumatic heart disease in India.
• Congenital heart disease — present from birth.
• Cardiomyopathy — primary disease of the heart muscle.
• Pericardial disease — inflammation or fluid around the heart.
• Peripheral artery disease and stroke — related vascular conditions.

Common warning symptoms — always worth checking

• Chest pain or tightness with exertion.
• Breathlessness on mild effort or lying flat.
• Palpitations (fluttering, racing or slow heart).
• Swelling of feet or ankles.
• Fainting or near-fainting.
• Sudden severe fatigue or drop in exercise capacity.

Red flags — dial 112

• Crushing chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes.
• Chest pain with cold sweat, vomiting, breathlessness.
• Sudden severe breathlessness or gasping.
• Sudden collapse — start CPR immediately while awaiting help.
• Stroke symptoms (face droop, arm weakness, slurred speech).

India-specific framing

Indians develop heart disease about 10 years earlier than Western populations. The "South-Asian phenotype" — higher LDL and triglycerides, lower HDL, a larger waist at relatively normal weight, earlier diabetes — means people in their 30s and 40s need to take heart-health seriously. Family history further raises risk. Screening should start earlier than in Western guidelines.

Prevention — the playbook works

• Don't smoke (cigarettes, bidis, hookah).
• Move every day — 150 minutes a week minimum.
• Eat whole-food, low-trans-fat, low-salt diet; watch portions.
• Know your numbers — BP, blood sugar, lipid profile.
• Treat BP, diabetes and high cholesterol as advised — take tablets daily if prescribed.
• Manage stress, sleep 7-8 hours, maintain healthy weight.