At the BEAT 2025: National Cardiovascular Summit & Awards, the panel “Gen Z Hearts Under Pressure: Unpacking the Youth Cardiac Crisis” brought together leading cardiologists to discuss the alarming rise in heart-related issues among young adults.
Moderated by Dr. T. S. Kler, Chairman & HOD, BLK-Max Heart & Vascular Institute, the session explored how post-COVID inflammation, lifestyle changes, and rising stress levels are contributing to early cardiac risks.
Dr. Aparna Jaswal, Director Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi stated, “In the post-COVID era, social media has made people more aware of sudden cardiac events, but it has also amplified fear. Over the past decade, lifestyle diseases have sharply risen — many young adults now suffer from hypertension and diabetes, and even minor blockages can trigger heart attacks.
It’s important to differentiate between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest — the former is caused by a blockage, while the latter results from an electrical failure in the heart. Among people under 35, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest.
Simple preventive steps like family history checks, physical exams, and ECGs — especially for young athletes — can help detect risks early.”
Dr. Harinder K Bali, Chairman Cardiac Sciences, Livasa Hospitals said, “When we talk about sudden cardiac deaths among young people, it’s important to understand that not all of them are due to heart attacks. Unfortunately, India lacks reliable data and a culture of regular health check-ups, so we often don’t know if those who die suddenly were actually healthy.
A person may look fit but still have an unhealthy heart. Lifestyle diseases like hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity — even among children — are on the rise. Economic progress has brought sedentary habits, poor diets, and high stress levels, leading to younger people, even in their 20s, suffering heart attacks.
We must also consider other causes like cardiomyopathies, congenital anomalies, and even drug abuse. Lastly, denial plays a big role — people often avoid health checkups fearing it might affect their image, which delays diagnosis and treatment.”
Dr. Dhirendra Singhania, Director Interventional Cardiology , Yashoda Medicity Indira Puram and Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Kaushambi stated, “This is a commonly asked question. Statistically, we have indeed seen a rise in sudden deaths after COVID-19 — that’s a fact. In my own experience, I’ve treated very young patients as well, so this isn’t just theoretical.
Several possible causes have been discussed, including even the role of vaccines, though the numbers there are very small. What we observed in most post-COVID patients was myocarditis — inflammation of the heart muscle. Initially, we thought COVID was primarily a lung disease, but it also affects the heart.
Many patients developed a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state that persisted for months. This ongoing inflammation can make arteries more vulnerable, increasing the risk of plaque rupture and sudden cardiac events. I believe this lingering inflammation after COVID is a significant factor behind the rise in sudden deaths we’re witnessing.”