Is hustle culture increasing risk of heart-related issues? Doctors answer

The sudden demise of Rohan Mirchandani former CEO and cofounder of the Greek yoghurt brand Epigamia who passed away on December 21 aged 41 has yet again started the dialogue about heart diseases in younger men especially in the startup communityIn the last four years four CEOs and cofounders have passed at a relatively young age due to cardiac arrest Rudratej Singh President and CEO of Royal Enfield at 46 years Pankhuri Shrivastava Founder of rental startup Grabhouse aged 32 Rohan Malhotra cofounder of Good Capital at 44 and Ambareesh Murty cofounder and CEO of Pepperfry at the age of 51Itrsquos also no news that Indians are vulnerable to cardiovascular diseasesmdashit reportedly causes 248 per cent of all deaths in India in the form of heart attacks cardiac arrests heart valve disease and other complications Yet in a small survey conducted by Sunday midday on social media with 300 participants aged 20 and above over 55 per cent did not know the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrestmdashthe terms are considered interchangeableGone too soon Rohan Mirchandani 41 Rudratej Singh 46 Rohan Malhotra 44 Ambareesh Murty 51 and Pankhuri Shrivastava 32In simple terms cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating abruptly either due to a malfunction in the heartrsquos electrical system or a sudden change in the circulatory system A heart attack is related to blood circulation and occurs when a blockage or narrowing of the coronary artery cuts off or reduces blood flow to the heart causing damage due to lack of oxygenDr Sunil Wani a cardiologist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital says ldquoEducating people about cardiovascular diseases especially about the dangers of high blood pressure diabetes and high cholesterol is the key to its prevention and early detectionrdquoWhy are South Asians more prone to heartrelated conditions The answer lies in genetics fewer vascular regenerative and reparative cells lifestyle and environmental factors like air pollution Dr Wani says Indiarsquos genetic predisposition to cardiovascular diseases is quite welldocumented with studies pointing towards multiple genes contributing to the risk of developing coronary artery disease arteries narrowing and restricting blood flow to the heart ldquoAnd because of such extensive studiesrdquo Dr Wani says ldquoIf a person gets checked regularly and seeks medical help on time the risk of cardiovascular diseases decreases significantlyrdquoDr Sunil Wani and Dr Shaunak AjinkyaDoctors recommended individuals with a family history of heart issues dating back 25 years get tested frequentlyAre men more prone to heart disease than women The answer is yesmdashdue to biological propensity to higher levels of lowdensity lipoprotein LDL cholesterol AKA ldquobadrdquo cholesterol and the fact that they are more likely to develop hypertension at younger ages Experts say oestrogen delays the onset of heartrelated issues in women until menopause by improving healthy cholesterol levels However at an older age above 55 the risk of heart disease in men and women is somewhat similarA study conducted by Nathan Kline Institute and New York University School of Medicine suggests that menrsquos high testosterone levels also lead them to engage in more risktaking behaviours than women such as frequent drinking smoking and other activities despite knowing the consequences No wonder ldquowhy women live longerrdquo memes are some of the most longstanding on the InternetBorivlibased Dr Rashmi Singh says ldquoCombine these factors with internal body changes that occur in men after they hit their 40smdashsuch as reduced muscle mass and strength increased body fat decreased energy levels stiffening of arteries and a rise in cholesterol levelsmdashthey all increase the risk of heart diseaserdquoNegligence of health is a major factor in death due to cardiovascular diseases Doctors say many men do not undergo regular health checkups leading to late diagnoses of underlying conditions such as high cholesterol or prediabetes Stating a recent example Dr Wani says ldquoWe handled a cardiac arrest case last week where the man did not even know that he had diabetesrdquoStartup culture and hustle mentality are also to blame The new work norm demands long hours in generally highpressure environments deprioritising physical activity ldquoThis sedentary lifestylerdquo says Dr Wani ldquocombined with poor diet and sleep deprivation creates a perfect storm for heartrelated issues Professionals in demanding roles even doctors too sometimes face hormonal imbalances and elevated stress levelsrdquoSevere cardiovascular issues are not new Dr Wani says ldquoThe trend has persisted for over 25 years especially among men in their 40s But it has accelerated in recent years India is also the diabetes capital of the world Diabetes obesity and hypertension form a lethal combination that significantly raises cardiovascular risks and the prevalence of these conditions has grown substantially in the past few decadesrdquoHowever the narrative is changing slowly but surely It has been reported in these columns that unlike previous generations Gen Z views worklife balance as a necessity not a luxuryIndustry leaders such as Radhika Gupta Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund expressed shock and grief over Mirchandanirsquos passing emphasising selfcare over work The 41yearold tweeted ldquoIt is heartbreaking sic to see stories of so many folks I know losing their lives in their 40s and 50s to heart attacks and stressrelated ailments It makes you question a lot of things As I get older my greatest learning to manage stress is to be grateful Rich lists and power lists will make you believe life is a race but there is always someone who has more and many who have less Count the blessings and live the moments SicrdquoChronic stress anxiety and depression also play significant roles in deteriorating heart health A psychiatrist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Dr Shaunak Ajinkya says ldquoOne of the primary ways mental health affects the heart is through stress Chronic stress releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which increase heart rate and blood pressure Prolonged exposure of these hormones can harm the cardiovascular systemrdquo The continuous release of cortisol and other stress chemicals can damage blood vessels by causing inflammation which may lead to coronary artery diseaseMental health also indirectly influences heart health through its impact on sleep patterns ldquoAnxiety and depression often disrupt sleep leading to conditions such as insomnia or poor sleep quality Sleep deprivation is a known risk factor for heart disease as it can elevate blood pressure disrupt glucose metabolism and increase stress hormone levelsrdquo explains Dr AjinkyaAddressing the argument by many startup leaders and young businesses that we donrsquot need a full eight hours of sleep and just four to five hours are enough Dr Ajinkya says ldquoEven a cellphone can function with a 10 per cent battery but it cannot function for as long or as efficiently If a machine needs a recharge imagine the human body which is much more complexrdquoIn our discussion with doctors about menrsquos health in their 40s it became clear that there is no novel issue at play thatrsquos killing men Regarding concerns about the COVID19 vaccine causing heart attacks doctors stated there is no clinical evidence to support that claimSo it all boils down to maintaining a proper diet adequate sleep and dedicating at least one hour to mindfulnessbased meditation or stress reduction methods such as deep breathing and visualisation techniques that can calm down onersquos nervous system As Dr Ajinkya aptly put it ldquoIf you canrsquot make one hour for yourself nobody else willrdquo53 yrsAvg age of first heart attack in South Asians588 yrsAvg age of first heart attack in people of European descentSource The Interheart StudyTests for cardiovascular diseasesBlood tests To identify high cholesterol and diabetesmdashboth major contributors to heart diseaseElectrocardiogram ECG Helps detect irregular heartbeat or blocked arteriesEchocardiogram Helps detect structural abnormalitiesTreadmill stress test Identifies early signs of heart diseaseNote These have to be combined with a thorough clinical evaluationSource Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital