Cardiovascular Diseases Lead As India’s Top Killer: US Cardiologist Points Out Risk Factors

Indians are facing an increasing burden of heart diseases, and mortality is rising faster compared to other countries. A top US cardiologist has now shared the major risk factors that range from genetics to obesity to pollution.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) cause nearly 31 per cent of all deaths in India, according to the latest Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2021-2023 data from the Registrar General of India, released in September 2025.

The SRS report highlighted cardiovascular diseases as the leading cause of death, especially among adults over 30.

Speaking exclusively to HealthandMe, Dr. Sripal Bangalore, Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine, highlighted the key reasons why India is seeing a huge burden of heart diseases.

"I think it’s a combination of traditional and non-traditional risk factors. Globally, we are seeing the burden of obesity increasing, and specifically in India, genetic factors and non-traditional risk factors also play a role," Dr. Sripal said.

"There is a growing investigation into lipoprotein(a) and other causes of cardiovascular disease (in India). Obesity is a major risk factor, and I’m sure stress and pollution also add to it, with more and more data supporting these links," he added.

Data from the World Heart Federation showed that heart disease kills 28.6 lakh Indians every year. In the recent past, India has also been seeing a significantly higher rate of heart attacks and related deaths, even in children as young as 12 years old.

What Factors Are Driving This Trend

"I think we need to know that part of it tends to be non-traditional, because in the Western world most of it is explainable by traditional risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia," Dr. Sripal said.

"What we see in India is that it is less about those risk factors, but more about non-traditional ones, including potentially genetic factors and lipoprotein(a)," the doctor added.

The Indian-origin interventional cardiologist also cited lifestyle factors such as stress and pollution that are significantly adding to the increased risk of cardiovascular events in the country.

AHA 2026 Cholesterol Guidelines: Relevance For India

Recently, the American Heart Association (AHA) released cholesterol guidelines, which stressed the importance of early screening,starting wit teenagers.

The guidelines call for early intervention through early screening and healthy lifestyle changes, starting from childhood.

It recommends:

• Children (9-11 years): Cholesterol screening if never done before.
• Adults (30-79 years): Evaluate 10- and 30-year ASCVD risk to determine the need for early intervention

While the guidelines are "relevant overall" for all , the doctor stressed the need to personalize the recommendations based on each country and practice.

"India is a good example where LDL levels (bad cholesterol) may not be very high, like in the Western world. Many times, HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) tends to be lower, and there are other risk factors, including lipoprotein(a), which seems to be elevated here," Dr. Sripal said.

How To Improve Heart Health

The doctor also explained whether overall diet quality matters more than just cholesterol intake.

"Diet adds to the totality of everything that we do, including increasing the risk of obesity. Cholesterol may explain some part of it, but having a heart-healthy diet is critically important," Dr. Sripal said.

The cardiologist highlighted the need to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables, as consuming natural foods is critically important.

Importantly, he also emphasized at least making sure that you have a lipid panel to check your cholesterol levels.

"We are assuming that you are staying healthy and not smoking. Checking blood pressure, it depends on your age, but at least once a year, checking your lipid panel would be critically important," Dr. Sripal told HealthandMe.

As a cardiologist, he shared that to boost heart health, the key is

• to make sure that you lead a healthy lifestyle,
• stay away from smoking,
• increase physical activity,
• reduce stress.

"I mean, it’s easier said than done, but I think it is critically important to reduce stress," he said.

"Pollution is one factor, and I think we can all do our part to make sure that we don’t contribute more to environmental pollution," he noted.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Are chemicals to blame for cancer in young people? Here’s what the evidence says

Cancer is traditionally known as a disease affecting mostly older people.  

But some worrying trends show cancer rates in younger people aged under 50 are on the rise.

This week’s ABC 4 Corners suggest chemicals, including plastics, may play a role in rising rates of these early-onset cancers.

So what does the evidence say is causing this increase? And what can we do about it?

Why does cancer mostly affect older people?

Each cell in your body contains a copy of your DNA – the instructions needed to keep that cell functioning properly.

However, DNA can be damaged or “mutated” in such a way that a cell will no longer do the job it’s supposed to. 

Some mutations will allow a cell to make too many copies of itself and grow out of control. Others can protect it from dying. And others still allow it to move around and travel to other organs where it doesn’t belong.

Accumulating too many of these DNA mutations can lead to cancer.

Every time a new cell is made in our body, a copy of our DNA is made too. Sometimes, due to random chance, mistakes occur which introduce genetic mutations.

Think of it like making a photocopy of a photocopy, and so on. Each copy will be slightly different than the original.

Most DNA mutations are harmless.

But your cells are making billions of new copies of themselves each day. So the older you get, the more DNA copies you will have made during your lifetime, and the more likely you are to have dangerous mistakes in those copies.

As we get older, our bodies aren’t as good at recognising and removing cells with dangerous mutations. That’s why cancer is  much more common in older people.

What’s causing cancer in younger people?

One of the reasons increased cancer rates in younger people is so worrying is it means there are likely environmental factors involved we don't yet know about.

Environmental factors are anything outside of our bodies: things such as chemicals, viruses and bacteria, the amount we exercise, and the foods we eat.

Many of these environmental factors can increase the likelihood of DNA copying mistakes, or even directly damage our DNA, increasing our risk of cancer.

One well-known example is ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which can lead to skin cancer. Another is smoking, which can lead to lung cancer.

Fortunately, public awareness campaigns about the dangers of sun exposure, and reduced rates of people smoking cigarettes, have led to falling numbers of skin and lung cancer cases in Australians under 50 over the past 30 years.

But other types of cancer – including cancers of the liver, pancreas, prostate, breast and kidney – are increasing in young people in Australia. The trend is global, particularly among richer, western countries.

What role do chemicals play?

Researchers are working to understand the causes of these increases. Currently, chemicals are in the spotlight as an environmental factor of particular interest.

We’re exposed to more chemicals in the modern day than many of our ancestors were – things such as air pollution, food additives, plastics and many more.

Alcohol and cigarette smoke aside, most chemicals that are definitively linked to cancer are not ones most people would regularly encounter, as they’re restricted to spaces such as industry.

One of the main chemicals of concern are plastics, which are ubiquitous: almost everyone encounters them, every day.

Experts agree plastics represent an overall massive general risk to human health and the environment.

But there are so many thousands and thousands of plastics, it’s hard to point fingers at specific ones causing specific problems, including cancers.

Studies using animals can give strong evidence one way or another. But in humans who are exposed to thousands of different environmental factors every day, it’s difficult to definitively state “risk factor X contributes to cancer Y”.

So, it’s not possible to point to a single “smoking gun” in the case of the increasing early-onset cancer rates.

Let’s use colorectal cancer (also called bowel cancer) as an example to illustrate the issue.

Why are young people getting bowel cancer?

In older people, bowel cancer rates are actually falling. This is thought to be in part due to improved  testing and screening helping to catch and destroy dangerous cells before they actually become cancer.

But early-onset bowel cancer rates are rising.

Some people speculate this may be due to increased exposure to plastics, as the digestive system is exposed to these through the food we eat. This includes things such as nano-or micro-plastics, or chemicals leaching out of the plastics into foods, such as PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances).

But there are other potential culprits, such as diet and lifestyle, with obesity and alcohol intake correlating with increased cancer rates. 

Bacteria may also play a role: the types of bacteria found in your microbiome are thought to contribute to bowel cancer risk. Even exposure to certain bacterial toxins has been linked to bowel cancer risk.

How can you reduce your risk of cancer?

While there is no definitive evidence linking chemicals to increased cancer risk in young people, this is an area of intense ongoing research. Reducing your use of and exposure to plastics and chemicals where possible is still probably a healthy thing to do.

On top of that, you can reduce your overall cancer risk through regular exercise and maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.

If you have any concerns, and particularly if you have a family history of cancer, consult your doctor.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Cancer Hazards: 12 Skin Cancer Mistakes to Avoid

About 20% of all Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the time they hit 70, says the Skin Cancer Foundation. Skin cancer may form as a non-melanoma (bad) or melanoma (very bad) type of disease. Whatever it may be, one thing is certain - you definitely don't want it. Worse, you may be inadvertently doing things to increase your risk. For starters, sitting out in the sun unprotected is instantly going to increase your odds of being diagnosed with a case of skin cancer. But, some less obvious reasons could lead you down a dangerous path. Here are 12 essential tips to bear in mind:

1. Getting nails done

 

 

While you may not worry too much about getting your nails done at the salon, using UV rays emitted from the LED lamps at your nail salon for a short period of time could result in a life-threatening skin cancer diagnosis. This is what happened to a 20-year-old woman from Illinois, who was diagnosed with skin cancer. Her doctor said it was most likely caused by the regular gel manicures.

2. You aren't eating enough veggies 

Eating plenty of veggies isn't just good for your health. It can help protect against cancer too. According to the National Cancer Institute, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale are broken down into indoles and isothiocyanates - two key elements that have been shown to prevent cancer from developing. Veggies also keep your immune system healthy. This comes in handy when your body is fighting off illnesses and diseases.

3.You smoke

Most smokers likely assume that they are putting themselves at risk for lung cancer. However, skin cancer is a possibility too. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, inhaling toxins can increase your risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma on your lips by 52%. Since it affects 700,000 people in the U.S. each year, it is incredibly common. 

 

4. You use a tanning bed 

 A vast amount of research has been conducted surrounding the dangers of tanning beds. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, people continue to use them at an alarming rate. Just one session increases your risk of melanoma by 20%, basal cell carcinoma by 29% and squamous cell carcinoma by 67%. 

 

5. You don't wear sunglasses

 
 

Sunglasses do more than keep the sun out of your eyes. They help protect your delicate eye area - including the very thin-skinned eyelids from skin cancer. Sunglasses should be worn all year round and anytime you are enjoying the sunshine. Opt for a pair that blocks 99 to 100% of those harmful rays. 

6. You don't wear enough SPF 

If you think that SPF 35+ is going to be enough at the beach, you are mistaken. In a new study published in the Journal of the American of Academy of Dermatology, researchers found SPF 100+ is more protective against sunburns than SPF 50+. It is also essential that you reapply often. Bear in mind that the higher the strength doesn't mean that it has a longer staying power. 

 

7. You're not protecting your skin from pollution

It's not just the sun that can harm your complexion. Pollution is just as bad for you, as it is for the environment. Pollution can cause uneven skin tone, accelerated aging and skin cancer. To make sure it doesn't affect you, wash off your skin and wear sunscreen every day. Put it on immediately in the morning and be sure to spring for one that contains antioxidants. 

 

8. You always sit by sunny windows 

Whether you are in the car or not, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sitting in front of a sunny window doesn't just lead to wrinkles, it could also lead to skin cancer down the line. 

 

9. You don't wear sunscreen on flights

People tend to feel safe from the sun in a plane, despite traveling six miles closer to it. However, according to one expert, that can really do some damage. Dermatologist Doris Day says “The fact is, flying at 30,000 feet [for 60 minutes] can be as dangerous as 20 minutes in a tanning bed.” So, if you're not wearing any sunscreen, pull down the shade. 

 

10. You rely on the SPF in your makeup for protection 

It's nice that your face makeup has the added bonus of SPF. But don't solely depend on that to protect your skin. Many products only have an SPF of 15 and since the American Academy of Dermatology recommends at least 30 SPF on a daily basis, you might need to apply extra before getting ready for the day.

11. You're not careful with your spray tan

 

 

Getting a spray tan is a better option than getting a real tan. However, after your appointment be extra cautious. You have a higher risk of free radical damage from those UV rays for up to 24 hours after bronzing yourself. After a day, you'll be fine to apply sunscreen as usual. 

 

12. You're wearing shiny lipsticks 

You may want to rethink the high-shine, glossy lipsticks. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, they basically do the same thing as putting baby oil on your body does - you become a magnet for UV rays that can burn and damage your skin. Opaque lipstick with SPF 15+ is a better option. 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement
https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs