{
  "id": 20086316,
  "title": "Cardiologist flags five major heart attack risk factors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/cardiologist-flags-five-major-heart-attack-risk-factors",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T00:30:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/cardiologist-five-major-heart-attack-risk-factors-10942187/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bengaluru cardiologist Dr Divakar Bhat recently outlined five key risk factors for heart attacks in a brief Instagram video. These factors include smoking, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and chronic stress. According to Dr Parin Sangoi, an interventional cardiologist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, these risk factors can damage blood vessels and lead to atherosclerosis, which is the buildup of plaque in the arteries.\n\nWhen a heart attack occurs, blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed, often due to a clot forming over plaque in a coronary artery. Early detection and management of these risk factors are crucial for preventing heart attacks.\n\nSmoking damages blood vessels, promotes clot formation, and reduces oxygen availability, increasing the likelihood of arterial blockages. Uncontrolled diabetes accelerates blood vessel damage and raises the risk of coronary artery disease. High blood pressure continuously strains the arteries, potentially damaging their walls and contributing to cardiovascular disease when left untreated. Elevated cholesterol levels can contribute to plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, narrowing them and potentially triggering a heart attack when plaque ruptures and forms a clot. Lastly, chronic stress can affect blood pressure, sleep patterns, and behaviors like eating, smoking, and physical activity, indirectly increasing cardiovascular risk over time.\n\nWhile no single risk factor is more dangerous than the others, the presence of multiple factors significantly raises an individual's risk. Dr Sangoi emphasizes the importance of early identification and management of these risks. Regular screenings, including blood pressure measurements, lipid profiles, and blood glucose tests, are recommended based on individual factors such as age, family history, and existing health conditions. Patients with diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol require regular monitoring according to their doctor's advice.\n\nTo lower the risk of a heart attack, Dr Sangoi recommends getting adequate sleep, managing stress, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy weight. Consistently taking prescribed medications is also crucial. Even if blood pressure or cholesterol levels improve, patients should not discontinue their medication without consulting a healthcare professional.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}