Questions related to heart health are being searched more frequently than ever and not just by older adults. Queries such as “Why are young people getting heart attacks?” and “Is my chest pain serious?”
are among the most Googled cardiac health questions in 2025, reflecting growing concern, confusion, and urgency around heart disease.
Dr Rockey Katheria, Consultant, Interventional Cardiology, Manipal Hospital, Varthur Road, answers these widely searched questions with medical clarity.
1. “Why are so many young people getting heart attacks in 2025?”
There has been a noticeable rise in heart attacks among younger individuals over the past few years, and there is no single cause, it is a multifactorial issue.
Many young patients today have underlying metabolic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol that often go undiagnosed. Sedentary lifestyles, extreme stress, poor sleep, and smoking play a major role and are considered some of the leading causes of heart attacks in younger populations. Genetics also contribute significantly. Some individuals inherit risk factors such as very high cholesterol or abnormal lipid profiles, including elevated lipoproteins, even if they have otherwise led healthy lives. Together, these factors are driving an increase in cardiac events among younger adults.
2. “How do I know if chest pain is actually a heart problem?”
Chest pain is often mistaken for gastric discomfort because the sensations can feel similar. However, cardiac pain typically presents as pressure or heaviness rather than sharp, pinpoint pain.
This discomfort can be felt anywhere from the jaw down to the umbilicus, in the front or back of the chest, most commonly in the centre or left side, though it can also occur on the right. The pain may radiate to the left or right arm, jaw, neck, or back, and may be accompanied by sweating, breathlessness, nausea, vomiting, or a general sense of unease, though these symptoms are not always present.
Typically, cardiac-related heaviness lasts for about 5 to 10 minutes and tends to worsen with physical exertion. In contrast, a small, localised pain that you can pinpoint with a finger is unlikely to be heart-related.
3. “What is the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?”
A heart attack and cardiac arrest are two distinct medical emergencies.
A heart attack occurs due to blockages in the arteries supplying the heart. During a heart attack, patients are usually conscious and experience symptoms such as chest pain, sweating, and difficulty breathing. This allows some time to reach a hospital for emergency treatment, which may include blood thinners or procedures such as angiography and angioplasty.
Cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is an electrical malfunction of the heart. In some cases, a severe heart attack can trigger a cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the patient collapses suddenly, has no pulse, and stops breathing. Immediate CPR and defibrillation are critical, without prompt intervention, survival chances are extremely low.
While both conditions are life-threatening, cardiac arrest is far more critical, as survival depends entirely on immediate, on-the-spot action.
4. “Can stress really cause a heart attack?”
Yes, stress can trigger heart attack–like events.
Doctors do encounter patients with no prior history of heart disease who experience cardiac symptoms due to intense stress. This condition, known as stress cardiomyopathy, occurs when emotional stress, physical strain, infection, or other medical triggers place sudden pressure on the heart, causing it to behave like a heart attack.
Chronic stress over time can also elevate heart rate and blood pressure, increase inflammation, and contribute to plaque rupture in the arteries. As a result, stress-related cardiac events can occur both in individuals with previously healthy hearts and in those with underlying heart disease, where acute stress triggers a flare-up.
The reassuring aspect is that many stress-related cardiac events are reversible, especially when identified and managed early.
5. “Is it safe to take gym supplements for heart health?”
Gym supplements are generally not recommended for improving heart health. The foundation of a healthy heart is consistent, moderate exercise not supplements.
Many gym supplements promise quick results, which makes them appealing. However, these short-term gains often come with significant risks. Products such as anabolic steroids, fat burners, hormone-based supplements, boosters, and stimulant-heavy pre-workouts can increase the risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms.
If supplements are considered at all, clean whey protein in limited quantities may be relatively safer but only if kidney function is normal, hydration is adequate, and usage is not excessive. Electrolytes may also be acceptable in specific situations.
As a general rule, any supplement that promises rapid muscle gain or fast fat loss is likely harmful to the heart. Sustainable, exercise-led lifestyle changes remain the safest and most effective approach to heart health.
