Preventive heart screening should begin at the age of 17, according to Dr Devi Shetty, Founder and Chairman of Narayana Health. He cited new guidelines from the Cardiology Society of India that place greater emphasis on early detection and awareness of cardiac risk factors.
Cholesterol Test at 17
Speaking in Bengaluru, Dr Shetty said every Indian should undergo a cholesterol test at 17 to detect risks early and adopt lifestyle changes if needed. “Every Indian, at the age of 17, must get a blood test done. This is the guideline now issued by the Cardiology Society of India because if the cholesterol level is high, they can modify their diet,” he stated.
Screening Timelines Based on Risk
Dr Shetty outlined specific screening timelines. Men aged 35 to 40 should undergo a routine health assessment along with a CT scan of the heart. Those with a family history of heart disease should be screened at 30, while people with diabetes should undergo screening even earlier.
Know Your Numbers
He stressed the importance of regularly monitoring basic health indicators. “Everyone should know their numbers. They should know their blood pressure, cholesterol and heart health indicators,” he said.
Extreme Sports Screening
Dr Shetty also advised young people participating in extreme sports to undergo cardiac screening before taking part. “Even if you are 17 or 18, if you are going for extreme sport, you must go for a check-up,” he said. He noted that many heart conditions can be detected through simple tests completed within an hour. “Simple tests can be done once a year. If the CT scan is normal, you may not need another for seven to 10 years,” he added.
Early Detection Key
He emphasized that early screening and timely check-ups were crucial to identifying heart disease before symptoms appear.
