Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Why auto, cab drivers may face a hidden heart risk
A health teacher named Prashant Desai noticed something worrying.
He found that some young people in a part of India called Karnataka were dying suddenly from heart problems.
Many of them were auto or cab drivers.
Some were younger than 45 years old, which is quite young.
Driving for many hours can be hard on the body.
Sitting for a long time, breathing dirty air, and not sleeping well can strain the heart.
A heart doctor named Dr B C Kalmath says these things can make heart problems more likely.
However, they usually do not cause a heart attack by themselves if the heart is already healthy.
Drivers are being told to take short breaks, exercise, and get enough sleep to protect their hearts.
Health educator Prashant Desai said six of the last 20 sudden cardiac deaths in one Karnataka district were auto or cab drivers.
Fourteen of the 24 deaths examined by Desai were among people under 45 years old.
Desai attributed the pattern to occupational pressures including long sitting hours, pollution, disrupted sleep and chronic stress.
Dr B C Kalmath of KIMS Hospitals, Thane, said these factors raise cardiovascular risk but do not by themselves cause a sudden cardiac event.
Experts recommended regular health checks, mandatory breaks every one to two hours, exercise and adequate sleep for drivers.
- Who
- Health educator Prashant Desai and cardiologist Dr B C Kalmath of KIMS Hospitals, Thane, along with auto and cab drivers in Karnataka.
- What
- A reported pattern of sudden cardiac deaths among young auto and cab drivers, linked to occupational factors such as long sitting hours, pollution, disrupted sleep and chronic stress.
- When
- Recently highlighted by Desai in an Instagram post; the examined deaths were described as the last 20 and 24 sudden cardiac deaths in the district.
- Where
- One Karnataka district in India; expert commentary came from KIMS Hospitals in Thane.
- Why
- Long hours of driving, sedentary work, pollution and stress may increase cardiovascular risk, though experts say these factors mainly add risk for those with existing heart disease.
Occupational stress is driving young drivers' deaths
Occupational factors only add to existing risk
Cause of sudden cardiac deaths in young drivers
Occupational stress is driving young drivers' deaths
Prashant Desai argues that long sitting hours, pollution, disrupted sleep and chronic stress are behind sudden cardiac deaths among young auto and cab drivers, and calls for regular health checks and mandatory breaks.
Occupational factors only add to existing risk
Dr Kalmath cautions that these factors do not by themselves cause a sudden cardiac event and mainly increase overall risk in a person who already has existing heart disease.
- Sudden cardiac deaths examined
- 24
- Deaths among people under 45
- 14 of 24
- Auto or cab drivers among last 20 deaths
- 6 of 20
- Claim source
- Instagram post by Prashant Desai
- Expert quoted
- Dr B C Kalmath, Director & HOD, Department of Cardiac Sciences, KIMS Hospitals, Thane
- Recommended break frequency
- Every one to two hours
- Key occupational risk factors
- Long sitting hours, pollution, disrupted sleep, chronic stress
- Warning symptoms
- Chest discomfort, breathlessness, unusual sweating, dizziness, palpitations, unexplained fatigue