The Preventive Pulse

Silent Heart Symptoms in Women Under 40 – What They Must Know By Dr. Jatinder Sachdeva MBBS (Medalist) MS (Gen Surgery) Former Director, Office of Health Services OP JGUniversity Family Physician & Preventive Health Advocate   Young, Fit, and Still at Risk? Think Agai n Heart disease is no longer just a concern for the elderly. Increasingly, women under 40 are being diagnosed with heart conditions — and alarmingly, many of them don’t experience the classic chest pain or obvious symptoms we typically associate with a heart attack. Instead, they experience "silent" symptoms — subtle, easily ignored, or misattributed to stress, hormonal changes, or lifestyle factors. These overlooked signs can delay diagnosis and treatment, leading to serious consequences.   What Are "Silent" Heart Symptoms? In women, especially younger women, heart disease can present with non-traditional symptoms, such as: 1. Unusual Fatigue Feeling drained without reason — even after adequate re...

🪀 How to Prevent Heart Attacks During Exercise - A humble effort to Safe and Effective Physical Activity: Heart attacks during or after exercise can occur—especially in people with undiagnosed heart conditions, poor exercise habits, or sudden overexertion. The key is gradual progression, listening to your body, and understanding your risk. 🏁 1. Start Slow and Build Up Gradually ●Begin with low-to-moderate intensity exercises like brisk walking or light cycling. Start with 15–25 minutes a day, increasing duration and intensity gradually to 45 minutes or more. ●Allow your heart and muscles to adapt to the new routine. ●Always include warm-up (5–10 min) and cool-down periods to help the heart transition. ⚠️ 2. Know the Warning Signs – Stop Immediately If You Experience: ●Chest pain, pressure, or tightness (angina) ●Shortness of breath not proportional to exertion ●Unusual fatigue or weakness ●Dizziness or lightheadedness ●Pain or discomfort radiating to the arms, jaw, neck, back, or s...

 💔 Heart Attacks at a Young Age: A Growing Concern 🚨 Not Just an Old Man’s Disease Anymore. Heart attacks, once considered a disease of the elderly, are increasingly affecting young adults under 40. This alarming trend is no longer rare, especially in India, where stress, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition play major roles. In India, a significant number of heart attacks occur in younger individuals. Approximately 50% of heart attacks in Indians happen before the age of 50, and 25% occur before the age of 40, according to Apollo Hospitals and the Indian Heart Association. This is significantly earlier than in other populations.  What is even more disturbing is the fact that heart attacks are not limited to men; even young women are succumbing in numbers that were never seen before. Earlier, it was noted that women develop heart diseases at quite an older age because of the protective effects of estrogen. However, according to research by the American Heart Association, in...

  Real-life Case Story: 📍 “A 50-Year-Old Walked in With Fatigue. Here's What We Found.” 📍 Fatigue isn’t always from a busy day. A simple blood test revealed a silent duo working against his energy: anaemia and hypothyroidism. Here's the real-life case. A Tired Tale — But Not from Work A 50-year-old gentleman, let’s call him Mr. Raj (name changed) , walked into my clinic complaining of chronic fatigue. He was a working professional, managing a moderately active lifestyle. But for the last 6 months, he had been feeling “just off.” No major pains. No weight loss. Just an overwhelming tiredness. “I sleep, but I wake up more tired,” he said. Subtle Clues We Almost Missed: Upon further discussion, Mr. Raj mentioned: Craving tea 3-4 times a day to “stay active” Breathlessness while climbing stairs Occasional constipation Feeling cold even when others didn’t On examination: Pale lower eyelids Slight swelling around the neck Brittle n...

🩺 Prediabetes: Your Wake-Up Call! Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) — The Silent Signal You Shouldn’t Ignore 🔍 Why You Should Care Prediabetes has no symptoms. Many live with it unknowingly — until it turns into Type 2 Diabetes . 🧪 When to Get Tested for Prediabetes Check if you: Are overweight or obese Have a family history of diabetes Have heart disease , high BP , or low HDL (<35 mg/dl) / high triglycerides (>250 mg/dl) Have PCOS or lead a sedentary lifestyle Have BMI ≥ 25 (BMI = weight in kg / height in m²) 🧬 How Prediabetes Is Diagnosed Fasting Blood Sugar 100–125 mg/dL = Prediabetes ≥126 mg/dL = Diabetes HbA1C Test <5.7% = Normal 5.7–6.4% = Prediabetes ≥6.5% = Diabetes Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) <140 mg/dL = Normal 140–199 mg/dL = Prediabetes ≥200 mg/dL = Diabetes ⚠️ Types of Prediabetes Impaired F...