India, Sept. 27 -- World Heart Day asks us not to miss a beat. In Indian hospitals, that warning now belongs to people who still have school-going children. A first heart attack in this country arrives nearly a decade earlier than in the West, with a large number of cases affecting people under the age of 50. The artery of a 36-year-old software engineer or a 42-year-old shopkeeper does not look "old". But it is often a single, sudden blockage - a plaque that ruptures - presenting as a major heart attack rather than years of mild chest pain. Families call it gas, acidity, cervical pain, or even office stress. That delay can sometimes be life-threatening. South Asian genetic factors, combined with changing lifestyles, are increasing cardiovascular risk. Indians tend to develop abdominal fat at lower body weights, while diabetes, prediabetes, and low HDL cholesterol can appear earlier. About one in four Indians has elevated lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), an inherited risk factor for heart disease. A family history of premature heart attack adds risk. Tobacco, inactivity, poor sleep, and unhealthy dietary choices add to the burden. People with risk factors should monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol, and where appropriate, Lp(a). A coronary calcium score CT can confirm silent plaque buildup. For a healthy heart, lifestyle changes remain essential: quit tobacco, stay active, maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, and sleep well. Prescribed medicines for cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes should not be avoided because of age. Recognise warning signs. Chest pressure, pain spreading to the jaw or arm, sweating and/or breathlessness require urgent medical attention. Do not dismiss symptoms such as acidity or stress. Early treatment can save heart muscle and lives. See the signs. Protect the years ahead. Don't miss a beat....