India, May 28 -- Heart disease is increasing rapidly in India, yet a large number of people still ignore its early warning signs. During my years of surgical practice and clinical research, I have repeatedly seen patients reaching hospitals only when their condition has already become critical. In many such cases, timely diagnosis and early treatment could have prevented serious complications and even saved lives.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that heart disease affects only elderly individuals. In reality, serious cardiac conditions are also found in children and young adults.

Parents often overlook symptoms such as excessive fatigue during play, shortness of breath, bluish discoloration of the lips or fingers, recurrent cough, ...