Heart Disease: Causes, Risks, and What You Can Do About It

When we talk about heart disease, a group of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Also known as cardiovascular disease, it’s the number one killer in India—not because it’s sudden, but because it’s often ignored until it’s too late. It doesn’t always come with chest pain. Sometimes, it’s just fatigue that won’t go away, or shortness of breath when you climb stairs. Or maybe it’s swelling in your ankles that you blame on standing too long at work. But if you’re over 40, have high blood pressure, smoke, or carry extra weight around your middle, your heart is sending signals—and most people miss them.

High blood pressure, a silent force that strains the heart and arteries over years is one of the biggest drivers. It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t show up on a selfie. But it’s quietly damaging your arteries, making them stiff and narrow. Then there’s heart surgery, a major intervention often used when blockages are severe or the heart muscle is failing. But not everyone needs it. Some people with heart disease are too high-risk for open-heart procedures. Others have alternatives—lifestyle changes, medications, or newer minimally invasive options—that work just as well. The key isn’t just treating the blockage—it’s understanding why it formed in the first place.

Looking at the posts here, you’ll see real stories: who shouldn’t go under the knife, what herbs might raise your blood pressure and make things worse, how walking can ease stiffness in your knees (which often goes hand-in-hand with heart issues), and why some people with bone-on-bone arthritis are also at higher risk for heart problems. You’ll find out what doctors in India actually recommend—not what ads tell you. There’s no magic pill. But there are clear steps: knowing your numbers, recognizing the quiet signs, and acting before your heart gives out.

Heart disease isn’t just about pills or surgery. It’s about daily choices—what you eat, how you move, whether you sleep well, and if you listen to your body when it says, "I’m tired." The posts below give you the facts you won’t get from a 30-second TV ad. No fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what to ask your doctor next time you sit across from them.