Heart specialist shares case of 37-year-old man who, despite running 5 km every day, eating no junk, needed two stents: ‘If your father/uncle had…’
Published on: April 14, 2026, 11 p.m. | Source: The Indian Express
In a sobering wake-up call for fitness enthusiasts, cardiologist Dr. Syed Akram Ali highlights the case of a 37-year-old active runner with no traditional risk factors who required two stents due to severe coronary blockages. Experts explain that while physical exercise is vital, it cannot fully override genetic predispositions—specifically family history and elevated levels of Lipoprotein(a), a "sticky" cholesterol particle that is genetically determined and not measured in standard lipid profiles. Beyond genetics, modern heart health is compromised by chronic corporate stress and poor sleep quality, which trigger systemic inflammation (measured by hs-CRP) and raise cortisol levels, leading to plaque instability even in seemingly lean individuals. To bridge the gap between "outward fitness" and "arterial health," specialists recommend advanced screening for markers like ApoB, homocysteine, and coronary calcium scores for those over 35, emphasizing that true prevention requires managing invisible metabolic strains that exercise alone cannot fix.
