Think you are healthy and safe from a heart attack? Doctors warn that hidden risk factors may be putting you at risk. Here is what to watch for.
Can heart health issues still occur in an overall healthy person?
There is a common assumption that eating clean and staying active keeps the heart safe. However, this is not always true. Some of the most alarming cardiac events happen in people who look fit, maintain a steady routine, and rarely fall sick. The gap lies in what 'healthy' usually measures and what it misses.
Dr Samanjoy Mukherjee, HOD and Consultant in Interventional Cardiology at Manipal Hospitals Dwarka, New Delhi, explains: 'Most of us think that if we do a little bit of exercise and just eat right, we are automatically safe from a heart attack. While those habits are great and should be followed, they do not tell the whole story.'
What 'healthy' often hides
Fitness is visible, but heart risk is not. A stable weight, clear skin, and good stamina can create a sense of control. However, deeper processes such as inflammation, arterial damage, and hormonal imbalance do not show up in the mirror.
'Many people who appear to be in perfect shape still face serious heart risks,' Dr Mukherjee explains. 'This happens because being healthy from above usually only covers the basics like weight, but it often ignores deeper issues like genetics, internal inflammation, and hidden stress.'
This mismatch matters because heart disease builds quietly. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, over 50% of cardiovascular diseases occur in people under 70.
Stress that does not show, damage that does
Stress rarely looks dramatic. It hides in deadlines, poor sleep, and constant mental noise. Over time, it pushes the body into a state of alert, raising blood pressure and inflammation.
'Stress, anxiety, and emotional health are also factors that may affect heart health,' says Dr Mukherjee. 'Lack of sleep, high mental pressure, and emotional stress are often not given due consideration but may have serious consequences on heart health.'
A report by the World Health Organization links chronic stress to an increased risk of hypertension and cardiac events.
Genetics: the risk you inherit
Some risks are written long before lifestyle choices begin. A family history of early heart disease can double the chances of similar outcomes, even in otherwise disciplined individuals.
'Your genetic makeup and family history are also important factors,' Dr Mukherjee notes. 'Many people do not consider this factor because they think they are healthy, but nowadays we can see that heart disease may occur at an early age.'
This is why two people with identical habits may have very different outcomes. One stays protected, the other faces sudden complications.
Staying one step ahead
Prevention today looks different from what it did a decade ago. It is less about appearances and more about awareness.
'Regular health screenings, such as blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol levels, blood sugar tests, ECG, and cardiac risk assessments, can help prevent heart problems from occurring,' Dr Mukherjee advises.
He adds: 'If risk factors and symptoms are recognised at an early stage, various treatment options are available. The key to heart health is, therefore, to stay one step ahead by being proactive.'
That means listening to the body even when nothing seems wrong, and checking what cannot be seen.
