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News18
17-05-2025
- Health
- News18
BP in Your 30s? Why Gen Z And Millennials Must Start Listening to Their Heart
Last Updated: The Apollo Health of the Nation report also put a spotlight on the silent health crisis brewing in India's student population A younger generation at risk: India's cardiac health narrative is undergoing a seismic shift. Once considered a disease of the middle-aged and elderly, heart conditions are now showing up alarmingly early—among those in their 20s and 30s. The Apollo Health of the Nation 2025 Report makes this clear: 26% of over 4.5 lakh individuals screened were found to have hypertension, many of them asymptomatic and under 40. This is not just a public health red flag—it's a generational wake-up call. Today's Gen Z and millennial Indians are not just inheriting genetic risks; they are living in an environment where stress, sedentary lifestyles, processed diets, and digital overload are accelerating cardiovascular risk like never before. Dr Sanjeevkumar Kalkekar, Sr Consultant Interventional Cardiology, Structural Heart Disease & Rhythm Disorder Specialist, National Trainer for Leadless Pacemaker, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai shares all you need to know: One of the most alarming revelations from the report is that 46% of asymptomatic individuals already show signs of early atherosclerosis—the buildup of plaque in arteries that leads to heart attacks and strokes. These are people who feel perfectly healthy. Yet, beneath the surface, their arteries are already under siege. This should force a hard rethink of India's cardiac care model. Waiting for symptoms to appear before initiating care is no longer viable. The disease is stealthy, often setting in silently over years, and by the time symptoms emerge, much of the damage is already done. We must shift to a 'prevention-first" approach rooted in early detection, risk screening, and continuous monitoring—starting from young adulthood. India's current healthcare system is still heavily reactive. Most people seek medical attention only after they fall ill. But in an era where disease begins quietly and decades earlier, this model is dangerously outdated. We must move from episodic treatment to predictive care. This means introducing vascular screenings, cholesterol and glucose tests, and blood pressure monitoring into routine health checkups for those even in their 20s and early 30s. It also means encouraging insurers to cover preventive diagnostics and empowering employers to roll out workplace wellness programs that are rooted in data, not just tokenism. What the data says about student health The Apollo Health of the Nation report also put a spotlight on the silent health crisis brewing in India's student population. 9% of high school students and 19% of college students were found to be pre-hypertensive—staggering numbers for an age group presumed to be healthy. The health of our youth is being compromised early—by long hours of screen time, poor dietary habits, mental health stressors, and lack of physical activity. These findings indicate that early lifestyle patterns are laying the groundwork for chronic diseases. If left unaddressed, we are looking at an entire generation grappling with cardiac issues in their prime years. The metabolic clock is ticking, especially for women The report also flags the growing incidence of metabolic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia post-menopause, pointing to a strong link between hormonal changes, weight gain, and insulin resistance. However, this shouldn't be seen as a problem that begins at 50. For many women, the shift starts much earlier, especially among those with PCOS, thyroid imbalances, or early weight fluctuations. The intersection between hormonal health and heart health must become a priority—particularly in how we monitor, diagnose, and treat young women. Why awareness must begin in your 20s, not your 40s The idea that cardiac care begins at 40 is outdated. When blood pressure and arterial damage are surfacing in one's 20s, prevention must begin earlier. That means more than just annual health camps or checkups. It means embedding heart health literacy into school and college curriculums, advocating for regular screenings for young professionals, and making diagnostics as routine as a vision test. This isn't just a healthcare issue—it's a cultural one. Society must embrace the idea that prevention is power, not paranoia. We don't wait for cavities before brushing our teeth. So why wait for heart disease to take root before we take action? What employers and insurers must do Workplaces and insurance providers must play a more proactive role. Currently, most workplace wellness programs do not go beyond yoga classes and one-off checkups. But in reality, young professionals are facing chronic stress, long sedentary hours, poor sleep, and erratic eating patterns—all of which directly impact heart health. Employers should integrate evidence-based screening programs, subsidize cardiac tests for those under 35, and tailor mental wellness programs to address burnout. Insurance providers, meanwhile, need to move from treatment-centric models to prevention-driven plans—by covering diagnostics like lipid profiles, calcium scoring, and vascular screenings for younger age groups. Time to listen to the silent signals top videos View all Many young Indians still don't perceive themselves to be at risk. But heart disease in the modern era doesn't always come with chest pain or breathlessness. Sometimes it comes with fatigue, irritability, insomnia, or just a higher-than-normal blood pressure reading. The body whispers long before it screams. The Apollo Health of the Nation Report doesn't just offer data. It offers a stark reminder: our window to intervene is earlier than we ever imagined. And it is shrinking. We must replace complacency with curiosity, ignorance with insight. Because heart health isn't just about beating disease—it's about beating the odds. tags : blood Pressure Foods for Blood Pressure Control high blood pressure hypertension (high blood pressure) latest news lifestyle Low Blood Pressure news18 risk of high blood pressure treat High Blood Pressure Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 17, 2025, 14:40 IST News lifestyle » health-and-fitness BP in Your 30s? Why Gen Z And Millennials Must Start Listening to Their Heart
News18
15-05-2025
- Health
- News18
Is Your Period Telling You Something? Early Signs Most Women Miss
Last Updated: According to Apollo Health of the Nation data, the incidence of type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women has soared from 14% to 40%, while obesity affects up to 86% of women For decades, menstruation has been viewed as a monthly inconvenience or a reproductive checkpoint. Rarely, however, is it recognised for what it truly is: a vital sign. Just like blood pressure or heart rate, the menstrual cycle offers critical insight into a woman's overall health—insights that are too often overlooked or misunderstood. In India, conversations around women's health still pivot primarily around fertility and childbirth. But what about the years that follow? The sharp rise in chronic conditions among women in their 40s and 50s demands urgent attention. According to Apollo Health of the Nation data, the incidence of type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women has soared from 14% to nearly 40%, while obesity now affects up to 86% of women in this demographic. These are not just numbers; they are early warning signs of a health system that has failed to evolve alongside women's physiological realities. Dr. Tripti Dubey, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Robotic Surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, shares all you need to know: The Silent Signals of a Shifting Body Before menopause sets in, women's bodies undergo subtle, often unspoken transitions. Irregular periods, heavier or lighter bleeding, increased fatigue, mood fluctuations, and unexplained weight gain—these aren't just inconveniences, they are signals. More importantly, they may be early indicators of insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders, cardiovascular risks, or even cancer. In fact, a study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia (2024) found that more than 60% of Indian women with irregular periods in their 30s were later diagnosed with metabolic conditions by their 50s. Yet, the link between menstrual health and chronic disease remains largely unaddressed in public health conversations. This oversight is not just clinical; it is cultural. Our health infrastructure has been designed around childbearing, not longevity. And while maternal health deserves its due attention, the silence around post-reproductive health care is costing lives. Rethinking the System: A New Framework for Women's Health It's time for a radical shift. At Apollo, we've begun piloting midlife metabolic clinics—multidisciplinary hubs that screen for and manage chronic conditions in women aged 40 and above. These clinics don't treat menopause as an isolated event but as part of a broader metabolic journey. They integrate bone density tests, cardiovascular and cancer screenings, mental health counselling, and personalised nutrition plans into routine care. Moreover, we are advocating for gender-specific medical protocols that recognise the biological and hormonal differences in how diseases present and progress in women. For example, while heart disease is the leading cause of death among Indian women, symptoms often go unrecognised due to their divergence from male-centric diagnostic models. The Role of Early Intervention Early menstrual irregularities, changes in mood, skin issues, or unexplained weight shifts are not just cosmetic or transient concerns—they are clinical clues. Educating women to observe these patterns and seek timely intervention could significantly reduce their risk of developing full-blown chronic diseases later in life. Healthcare providers, too, must recalibrate their approach. A woman in her 30s presenting with period irregularities should not be dismissed with a generic prescription. Instead, her care plan should include screening for insulin resistance, PCOS, thyroid function, and cardiovascular and cancer risk markers. Beyond the Clinic: Policy and Awareness A true transformation will require more than clinical change. It demands policy reform. India's public health programmes must expand beyond maternal care to include preventive health checkups for midlife women, public awareness campaigns on perimenopausal changes, and insurance schemes that cover long-term chronic care. Educational institutions and workplaces must also play their part by creating safe spaces for menstrual and menopausal conversations and by supporting women through these physiological transitions with empathy and resources. The Path Ahead If the body whispers before it screams, the menstrual cycle is the first whisper. It tells us when something is off—long before a formal diagnosis appears on a chart. Yet most women, conditioned to normalise pain, irregularity, and discomfort, miss the message. And when the silence stretches too long, the consequences often become irreversible. The question is not whether we can build a better system for women's health. The question is: Will we listen in time? Because a missed period isn't always about pregnancy. Sometimes, it's about a much larger, more complex story—one that could change the trajectory of a woman's entire life. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 15, 2025, 10:05 IST
