Bengaluru: Renowned cardiac surgeon and Narayana Health founder Dr Devi Shetty has urged Indians to undergo preventive heart screening at an earlier age, warning that feeling healthy does not necessarily mean the heart is free from disease.
Speaking about the growing number of heart attacks among younger Indians, Dr Shetty said many people with blocked coronary arteries do not experience any warning signs before suffering a cardiac event. He stressed that routine screening, including blood tests, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and heart CT scans, can help detect heart disease before it becomes life-threatening.
Many heart patients show no symptoms
Dr Shetty said nearly half of all patients with coronary artery blockages experience no symptoms before suffering a heart attack.
“Nearly 50 per cent of patients with blockages in the coronary arteries have no symptoms. They develop a heart attack without any previous chest pain, especially those with diabetes,” he said.
He explained that people living with diabetes often have reduced sensation in the heart, making it difficult for them to recognise warning signs that would otherwise prompt medical attention.
According to Dr Shetty, this silent progression of heart disease is one of the major reasons why apparently healthy individuals can suddenly experience fatal cardiac events.
Feeling fit is not the same as being medically fit
Highlighting the importance of preventive health checks, Dr Shetty cautioned against assuming that physical fitness alone guarantees good heart health.
Referring to incidents of people collapsing while exercising or participating in endurance events, he said routine medical examinations could help identify hidden heart problems.
“You have seen so many people just dropping down dead on a treadmill or while running a marathon. If they had undergone a basic blood test, an ECG and a cardiac CT scan, many of these heart attacks could have been prevented,” he said.
He also expressed concern that many people avoid consulting doctors until they begin experiencing pain or other obvious symptoms.
“Our biggest problem is that people refuse to see doctors unless they have pain,” he said.
Screening should begin early, says Dr Shetty
Dr Shetty recommended that every Indian undergo a blood test by the age of 17, in line with guidance issued by the Cardiology Society of India.
He said early testing can identify high cholesterol levels, allowing individuals to adopt healthier diets and lifestyle changes before cardiovascular disease develops.
He further recommended:
- All men aged 35 to 40 years should undergo routine heart screening, including a heart CT scan.
- People with a family history of heart disease should begin screening at around 30 years of age.
- Individuals with diabetes should consider screening even before the age of 30.
“It is important that everyone should know their numbers,” Dr Shetty said, referring to key health indicators such as cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.
He added that if a heart CT scan is normal, the individual may not require another scan for seven to ten years, depending on medical advice and overall risk factors.
What is a heart CT scan?
A heart CT scan is a non-invasive imaging test that uses computed tomography (CT) technology to produce detailed images of the heart and coronary arteries.
For preventive screening, doctors commonly recommend a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scan, also known as a calcium score test.
The scan detects calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. These deposits indicate plaque build-up, which increases the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks and strokes.
The results are expressed as a calcium score:
- A score of zero generally indicates no detectable calcified plaque and a lower short-term risk of heart disease.
- Higher scores suggest greater plaque accumulation and an increased future risk of cardiovascular events.
According to the American Heart Association, CAC scans can help doctors determine whether preventive treatment, including cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins, may benefit individuals whose cardiovascular risk is uncertain.
Preventive healthcare remains key
Dr Shetty’s comments come amid growing concern over the increasing incidence of heart attacks among younger adults in India.
Medical experts continue to emphasise that regular health check-ups, early diagnosis and timely lifestyle modifications remain among the most effective ways to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease.
Routine monitoring of cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and other cardiac risk factors, combined with medical advice tailored to an individual’s health profile, can significantly improve long-term heart health and reduce the likelihood of sudden cardiac events.
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