Heartiest Officials Regular Read October 17, 2025 Here’s the truth no one likes to hear: Being Indian is a blessing — but for your heart, it’s also a bit of a burden. Sounds dramatic? Wait till you look at the data. Indians are not just more likely to develop heart disease; we develop it younger, faster, and deadlier than most of the world. We don’t just get the problem — we seem to have been designed for it. Now, before you blame genetics and surrender, here’s the twist: Our DNA might load the gun, but our culture — from what we eat to how we stress — often pulls the trigger. So, let’s unravel this double trouble — the Indian genes and the Indian lifestyle — and understand why our hearts need more attention than ever. The “South Asian Paradox” Let’s start with a global observation that confuses scientists even today — Indians, even those who are non-obese, vegetarian, and “health-conscious,” are far more likely to develop coronary artery disease (CAD) than Western populations. A large study published in The Lancet and another by Harvard School of Public Health found that South Asians are 2–3 times more prone to heart attacks — and often a full decade earlier. In the U.S. and U.K., South Asians represent only about 4% of the population but account for over 10% of cardiac cases. That’s not bad luck — that’s biology and behavior conspiring together. 1. The Genetic Deck We’re Dealt Let’s get a bit scientific (without sounding like a genetics lecture). Many Indians carry certain gene variants like 9p21 and ApoA5, which increase the risk of atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries. Combine that with our higher rates of insulin resistance, and you get a population predisposed to diabetes, high triglycerides, and inflammation — all early tickets to heart disease. So yes, our DNA isn’t exactly working overtime to protect us. But genetics alone doesn’t explain the current crisis. After all, our grandparents had the same DNA, but far fewer heart attacks. Which brings us to the second half of the story — how modern culture made our genes misbehave. 2. When Culture Became the Culprit We Celebrate With Sugar and Oil Weddings, birthdays, festivals — our emotional dictionary begins with sweets. From laddoos to halwa, ghevar to rasgulla, sugar is how we express love. Even when someone survives a heart attack, the neighbors show up with kheer. But here’s what’s sobering — sugar isn’t just empty calories. It’s a silent inflammatory agent that accelerates aging and artery damage. A study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2020) showed that diets high in refined carbohydrates and sugars increase the risk of heart disease by 33%. That’s a bigger risk factor than salt for many Indians. And oil? We treat it like emotion — a little more never hurts. Except it does. We Sit to Work, Sit to Eat, Sit to Relax Modern India has mastered the art of sitting — at desks, in cars, on sofas, in meetings. We even order groceries from our phones to avoid walking 200 meters. The World Health Organization calls physical inactivity the “new smoking”, and Indians are now among the most sedentary people in Asia. A sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and poor circulation — all ticking time bombs for the heart. So yes, our ancestors ate ghee — but they also plowed fields, walked miles, and climbed stairs instead of pressing elevator buttons. We eat like kings and move like statues. Not a great combination. We Treat Stress as a Status Symbol Ask an average Indian professional, “How are you?” and the default reply is — “Busy, yaar.” We’ve glorified exhaustion. We measure success by sleeplessness, stress, and how many WhatsApp messages we haven’t replied to. But the body doesn’t care about promotions or deadlines. Chronic stress floods your system with cortisol and adrenaline, causing inflammation and plaque buildup in arteries. One study from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) found that urban stress levels correlate directly with heart risk, even among non-smokers and healthy eaters. So no, being busy isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning label. 3. The Modern Indian Diet: Tradition Lost in Translation We often say, “Our food is traditional, it can’t be unhealthy.” But let’s be honest — the traditional Indian thali has quietly changed its identity. Millets replaced by white rice. Ghee replaced by refined seed oils. Fermented foods replaced by packaged snacks. Home-cooked meals replaced by “Swiggy comfort food.” Even our so-called “vegetarian diets” are now dominated by fried carbs, sugar, and starch — with hardly any protein, fiber, or omega-3 fats. And then there’s portion size. Our ancestors ate in bowls; we eat in buffets. When culture meets convenience, health often leaves the room quietly. 4. The “Double Trouble” of Urbanization Rural India is catching up fast with urban disease patterns — but urban India is the epicenter of the explosion. Pollution, poor air quality, and lack of sunlight (leading to low Vitamin D) all add layers to our heart risk. Delhi, for instance, has particulate matter levels that damage vascular health equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes a day, according to The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Even the air we breathe is aging our arteries. Combine that with office snacks, high stress, and late-night screens — and you have an invisible cardiac cocktail being brewed daily. 5. The Family and Food Paradox There’s a beautiful — but dangerous — aspect of Indian life: we express love through food. “Beta, eat one more roti.” “Arre, you’ve lost weight, are you sick?” We are emotionally blackmailed into overeating, often by people who genuinely care for us. It’s affection wrapped in cholesterol. Breaking that pattern doesn’t mean disrespect — it means awareness. Love your family, but don’t let them love you to death through food. 6. The Good News: Genes Aren’t a Death Sentence Here’s the empowering part — genetics may make us more likely to develop heart disease, but lifestyle determines when and how severely. Studies show that Indians who eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and manage stress can reduce their heart risk by up to 70%, even if they have strong family history. The PURE study (2021) covering over 135,000 people across 21 countries found that modest lifestyle changes — especially cutting refined carbs, adding fruits and legumes, and walking daily — drastically reduced cardiac events. That’s the miracle we forget: our genes are not our destiny; they’re just our starting point. 7. Redefining “Being Indian” for the Next Generation Being Indian should mean more than pride in our culture — it should mean responsibility toward our biology. If we can master space missions and AI, surely we can learn to manage our own metabolism. We need to modernize without losing mindfulness — the same mindfulness our grandparents had, just without the bullock cart. That means: Enjoying festivals, but not feasts every week. Walking to the market, not to the fridge. Managing stress like a skill, not an afterthought. Teaching children that health isn’t “Western,” it’s wise. The Final Beat The Indian heart carries generations of strength, emotion, and resilience — but it also carries the silent weight of genes and habits that no longer fit the modern world. If we want to protect it, we must stop saying, “This is how it’s always been” and start asking, “Is this how it should continue?” Our ancestors survived scarcity. We must now survive abundance. Our challenge isn’t lack of knowledge — it’s lack of pause. And sometimes, that pause — to walk, to breathe, to rest — is the exact thing that resets the rhythm our DNA forgot. If this made you rethink your daily habits, share it. Because awareness isn’t just medicine — it’s inheritance. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
-Regular ReadYour Heart Remembers Every Habit — The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful October 17, 2025
