Why heart attacks are striking gym-goers in their 30s, 40s and 50s
- Lata Mishra
- TIMESOFINDIA.COMUpdated: Feb 28, 2026, 18:51 IST IST
The long-held belief that regular exercise works like an insurance policy against heart attacks is now being questioned by a growing number of cardiac events among seemingly healthy Indians in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
In recent years, India has witnessed a string of sudden deaths — on treadmills, badminton courts, during marathons, at gyms, even at social gatherings. Several of these cases, covered by TOI+, involved individuals who did not lead a sedentary lifestyle, were not visibly overweight, and had no prior diagnosis of heart disease. The shock lay in the contrast: they appeared fit.
In recent years, India has witnessed a string of sudden deaths — on treadmills, badminton courts, during marathons, at gyms, even at social gatherings. Several of these cases, covered by TOI+, involved individuals who did not lead a sedentary lifestyle, were not visibly overweight, and had no prior diagnosis of heart disease. The shock lay in the contrast: they appeared fit.
