Cholesterol tests should start from as early as 17, heart scans from 35: Dr Devi Shetty

Heart disease is often thought of as a problem that comes with age. But according to renowned cardiac surgeon Devi Prasad Shetty, prevention should begin much earlier, starting in the teenage years.

Speaking to ANI, the founder and chairman of Narayana Health said that every Indian should undergo a cholesterol test at the age of 17, in line with guidelines issued by the Cardiological Society of India.

His message comes at a time when India continues to grapple with a growing burden of cardiovascular disease, including an increasing number of heart attacks among younger adults.

Why test cholesterol at 17?

According to Dr Shetty, identifying high cholesterol early allows people to make lifestyle and dietary changes before serious heart problems develop.

"Every Indian at the age of 17 must get the blood test done. This is the guideline now issued by the Cardiology Society of India. Because if the cholesterol level is high, they can manipulate the diet," he said.

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High cholesterol often develops silently, with no noticeable symptoms. Left untreated, it can contribute to plaque build-up in arteries over time, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes later in life.

Who should get screened, and when?

Dr Shetty also outlined age-based recommendations for heart health screening. According to him:

-Everyone should get a cholesterol blood test at 17.

-Men aged between 35 and 40 should undergo routine heart evaluations, including a CT scan of the heart.

-People with a family history of heart disease should begin screening at around 30 years of age.

-Those with long-standing diabetes may need to undergo heart check-ups even earlier.

"Anyone with the family history of heart disease must go for the check-up at the age of 30 itself. Not wait for a long time. All the diabetics should go for the check-up even earlier," he said.

Know your numbers

Rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, Dr Shetty stressed the importance of regularly monitoring key health indicators.

"It is important that everyone should know their numbers. They should know what their blood pressure is, cholesterol number is, their heart numbers are," he said.

Doctors have long pointed out that conditions such as hypertension and high cholesterol may remain undetected for years until a major cardiovascular event occurs.

Planning to take up extreme sports? Get checked first

Dr Shetty also cautioned young people who participate in high-intensity or competitive sports against assuming that fitness alone guarantees heart health.

"Even if you are very young, 17 or 18, if you are going for extreme sport, you must go for a check-up," he said.

Referring to data published by FIFA, he claimed that hundreds of professional footballers have suffered cardiac arrests in recent years, underscoring that even elite athletes are not immune to underlying heart conditions.

While athletes generally have a lower overall cardiovascular risk than the general population, cardiologists recommend pre-participation screening for those with symptoms, a family history of heart disease or plans to engage in strenuous competitive sports.

Don't wait for warning signs

One of Dr Shetty's key messages was that relying on symptoms can be risky.

"If you are waiting for the trigger points, most of the time you miss the bus. The best way to know what the cardiac problems are is to get the test done," he said.

He added that routine heart assessments can often be completed within an hour and suggested that if a CT scan is normal, repeat imaging may not be required for another seven to ten years, depending on an individual's risk profile.

India accounts for one of the world's largest populations living with cardiovascular disease, and doctors have repeatedly raised concerns about the increasing incidence of heart attacks among younger adults.

Experts attribute the trend to a combination of factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyles and genetic predisposition.

While screening recommendations may vary depending on a person's medical history and individual risk factors, Dr Shetty's comments reinforce a growing emphasis on prevention rather than treatment.