A few days ago, around 8 PM, I was standing inside a shop in Kottayam when I received an urgent call from the hospital casualty. A 60-year-old woman had been rushed in with severe chest pain. Her ECG clearly showed a heart attack. She needed an emergency angioplasty, which is why the casualty team contacted me immediately.

I reached the hospital as fast as possible. Once she was stabilized, we took her to the Cath Lab and performed an angiogram. What we saw was alarming—one of her major coronary arteries was completely blocked, a 100% occlusion.

We performed an emergency angioplasty and successfully opened the blocked artery. Her condition improved rapidly, and by the next day she was shifted from the ICU to a room.

But this raised an important question for all of us: 

How did this woman develop a heart attack?

She was only 60, a woman, had no diabetes, no high blood pressure, and no cholesterol issues. 

Why then did she suffer a heart attack?

When we discussed this with the family, her husband smiled shyly and admitted that he was a heavy smoker-both inside and outside the house. He was unaware that his smoking was silently harming his wife. We explained that second-hand smoke exposure was the major reason behind her massive heart attack. Understanding the seriousness, he stopped smoking immediately. Four days later, she was discharged in excellent health.

Why This Story Matters

According to the World Health Organization, 80% of heart attacks can be prevented.

But how do we prevent them? 

The first step is understanding the risk factors. If we learn what causes heart attacks and control these risk factors effectively, the chances of developing a cardiac event can be significantly reduced. 

At the Best Cardiac Hospitals in Kottayam, this is the message we continuously emphasize—awareness, prevention, and timely treatment save lives. 

Risk Factors for Heart Attack

Risk factors are divided into two types: 

1. Non-modifiable risk factors (cannot be changed) 
2. Modifiable risk factors (can be controlled or corrected)

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors

There are three:

1. Age 
   As age increases, the risk of heart disease also increases. Men above 65 and women above 70 have a much higher risk. 
2. GenderWomen are naturally protected from heart disease before menopause due to estrogen. After menopause, their risk becomes equal to that of men.
   Men generally have a higher risk of heart disease throughout their adult life.
3. Family History (Heredity)
   If your parents or siblings have heart disease, your risk is higher. Genetics cannot be changed, but awareness can help in early prevention.

Modifiable Risk Factors

These are risk factors you can control, and addressing them can drastically reduce the chances of a heart attack. 

1. Smoking

This is the most important risk factor.
Even today, many young individuals smoke regularly. Smokers have 8 times higher risk of heart disease compared to non-smokers.

Nicotine and toxins in tobacco damage the inner lining of blood vessels, allowing cholesterol to accumulate and form dangerous blockages.

The good news?
If a smoker quits, their risk of heart attack becomes similar to a non-smoker within one year.

2.Diabetes

India is called the Diabetes Capital of the World.
People with diabetes have a significantly higher risk of heart disease. 

High blood sugar damages the inner lining of blood vessels (endothelium) and increases cholesterol formation, both of which accelerate block formation. 

For those who have had diabetes for more than 10 years, controlling sugar alone is not enough—they must also take cholesterol-lowering medications. 

3. High Blood Pressure

Patients often say, “My BP is 170, but I am 70 years old—so that’s okay, right?”
No. 

Modern research clearly states that blood pressure should not exceed 140/90 at any age. Uncontrolled BP increases the risk of: 

• Heart attack 
• Stroke 
• Kidney damage

BP can be controlled through diet, exercise, reducing salt intake, and, when required, medication. 

4. High Cholesterol 

High cholesterol is a major risk factor.
Many people say, “My cholesterol is only a little high,” but when asked, their levels are often 250–260—which is very high. 

Healthy targets: 

• Total Cholesterol: < 150 
• LDL Cholesterol: < 70 
• For those with heart disease: LDL should be < 50 

The lower the cholesterol, the lower the risk of heart attack.

Good cholesterol (HDL) should ideally be above 40.
However, in South India, HDL tends to be naturally low—exercise is the only effective way to increase it. 

Final Thoughts:

Prevention Is Possible Heart attacks don’t occur overnight—they develop over years.
By controlling risk factors, making lifestyle changes, and seeking timely advice from experts at the Best Cardiology Hospital in Kottayam, most heart attacks can be prevented.

If you or someone you love has any of these risk factors, don’t wait. Early screening with the Best Cardiologist in Kottayam can save lives.