Health · Medical Research · 1 hr ago
Five common factors can raise heart attack risk, cardiologists say
A Bengaluru-based heart surgeon highlighted five common heart attack risk factors: smoking, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and chronic stress.
A heart attack often happens when a clot blocks blood flow to the heart, sometimes forming over fatty plaque in a coronary artery.
Smoking and these health conditions can damage blood vessels or contribute to plaque, while stress can affect blood pressure, sleep and health habits.
No single risk factor is most dangerous for everyone, but having several at once can raise the danger further.
Cardiologists recommend early checks of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, with screening based on age, family history and health conditions.
ECGs and stress tests are not routine for every healthy adult without symptoms, and a clinician should decide if they are needed.
Cardiologist Dr Divakar Bhat highlighted smoking, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and stress as common heart attack risk factors.
These factors can damage blood vessels and contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries.
Dr Parin Sangoi said a heart attack typically happens when blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed, often by a clot forming over fatty plaque.
Sangoi said risk varies between people, but having several of these conditions at once raises the danger.
He recommended screening based on age, family history and existing health conditions.
- Who
- Cardiologists Dr Divakar Bhat and Dr Parin Sangoi discussed heart attack risk factors.
- What
- Five common factors are smoking, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and stress.
- When
- The article was published on 2026-11-15. Bhat recently shared a video, but its date is not stated.
- Where
- Bhat is based in Bengaluru; Sangoi works at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. The video was shared on Instagram.
- Why
- These factors can damage blood vessels, contribute to plaque buildup and increase the risk of blocked blood flow to the heart.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Indian Express published an article describing five common heart attack risk factors and screening advice.
Dr Divakar Bhat shared a 60-second Instagram video highlighting five common risk factors; the specific date is not stated.
- Risk factors
- Smoking, high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and stress
- Bhat’s video
- 60 seconds
- Bhat’s location
- Bengaluru
- Sangoi’s hospital
- Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central
- Article publication
- 2026-11-15
What people are saying
High blood pressure places a continuous strain on the arteries
Each of smoking, having uncontrolled diabetes, suffering from hypertension and having high cholesterol can greatly increase an individual’s risk. If all of these conditions occur at the same time, then the level of danger goes up even more