Why a Healthy Bengaluru Runner Needed Heart Stents

A fit 37‑year‑old Bengaluru man who ran five kilometres every morning, avoided junk food, never smoked or drank, and kept a disciplined sleep schedule, life had other plans. He recently landed in a cath lab with two major artery blockages and ended up needing two heart stents. According to doctors, this surprising turn proves that good habits alone may not always protect you from heart disease.

What happened to the man, and why it shocked doctors

The man started having chest tightness and heaviness in his left arm. An angiography, a heart vessel imaging test, revealed two serious blockages. Despite being seemingly healthy, the blockages would have led to a heart attack if left unchecked, so doctors placed two stents to open the arteries. The case shook many because he appeared to “do everything right.”

Hidden Risk 1: Genetics and Family History

Doctors highlight that genetics and family history are often overlooked. If someone in your immediate family, like a parent or uncle, had early heart problems, your own risk of heart disease goes up two to three times, no matter how fit or active you are. This underlying predisposition can quietly damage arteries over the years.

Hidden Risk 2: High Levels of Lipoprotein(a)

One of the main culprits identified was Lipoprotein(a), often written as Lp(a). Unlike regular cholesterol (LDL), Lp(a) is mostly determined by your genes and isn’t part of standard lipid tests. High Lp(a) can silently clog arteries even when “bad” cholesterol seems normal.

Hidden Risk 3: Stress, Inflammation, and Sleep Quality

Stress and pressure from modern life: Running 5 km daily may build endurance, but it doesn’t necessarily neutralise the harmful effects of chronic stress. Stress triggers adrenaline surges, raises blood pressure, and may increase tiny plaque formation inside arteries.
Undetected inflammation: Many apparently healthy people carry low‑grade inflammation measured by markers like high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs-CRP). Inflammation accelerates artery damage, but hs-CRP and similar markers are rarely included in routine health check-ups.
Poor sleep habits: Even if you follow a consistent sleep schedule, factors like screen exposure late at night or insufficient deep sleep can elevate stress hormones (like cortisol), thicken the blood, and destabilise arterial plaques, increasing the risk of a sudden cardiac event.

What Are Experts and Organisations Demanding?

In response to the findings, PAN Europe and its partner organisations have urged European authorities to:

Set stricter safety limits for TFA in food
Completely ban PFAS-based pesticides
Stop further contamination of the food chain

Public health experts have described the situation as urgent, stressing that everyday exposure through food and water is already widespread.

Why Fitness Alone Is Not Enough

The story of the fit 37‑year‑old Bengaluru man needing 2 heart stents makes it clear: regular exercise, clean diet, and disciplined sleep, though invaluable, do not guarantee a clean, healthy heart. Heart disease often results from a mix of genetics + hidden risks + silent biological factors.

What Tests Should Adults (Especially Above 25) Get Regularly

To uncover hidden risks early, doctors suggest that all adults (especially those over 25 years) should include the following in their health check-ups, not just standard cholesterol or blood sugar tests:

Lipoprotein(a) levels (Lp(a))
hs‑CRP (marker of inflammation)
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)
HbA1c (long‑term blood sugar control)
Fasting insulin (for insulin resistance)
Vitamin D
Homocysteine (linked to artery damage)
Treadmill Test (TMT) if symptoms of chest discomfort or unusual fatigue occur
The coronary calcium score is especially recommended for people above 35 years old.

Conclusion

This case serves as a powerful reminder that heart health is more than what meets the eye. Lifestyle matters, but so do invisible factors like genetics, inflammation, and hidden cholesterol subtypes. Therefore, being proactive by getting comprehensive screenings and not assuming that fitness alone is enough can truly save lives.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources

Priya Bairagi

Copy-Writer & Content Editor

All Posts

I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.