Thiruvalla, Kerala | October, 2025 – Heart disease has emerged as Kerala’s silent epidemic, claiming more lives than any other condition and increasingly striking younger people. Cardiologists across the state point to one common thread—unhealthy lifestyles that are quietly undermining heart health. Long hours of sitting, high stress levels, smoking, alcohol, and diets rich in fried foods and excess salt are all fueling the crisis.
While Kerala boasts some of India’s best healthcare facilities, experts warn that medical intervention alone cannot solve the problem. Prevention must begin at home. Dr. Harikrishnan K, DM Cardiology and Assistant Professor at Pushpagiri Medical College, Thiruvalla, explains that the solution does not lie in extraordinary measures, but in simple habits repeated daily. “People think heart care is complicated. In reality, it can be as simple as taking a ten-minute walk after meals, replacing one fried snack a day with fruit, or ensuring a full night’s sleep. These small acts accumulate into protection. The danger in Kerala is not lack of awareness, but delay in practice. By the time patients reach us, the damage is often done.”
Doctors in the state also note a worrying cultural trend. Traditional diets once balanced by physical labor are now heavy with oils and coconut-based foods, but the physical activity has disappeared. Modern conveniences have reduced the need to move, creating a mismatch that puts extra strain on the heart. Stress, especially among the young workforce, adds to the burden. “We see 25-year-olds with cholesterol levels that used to belong to sixty-year-olds. This is the new reality,” says Dr. Harikrishnan.
He advises Keralites to bring back rhythm into their daily lives—eating at regular times, walking short distances instead of relying on vehicles, and learning to manage stress through yoga, meditation, or even a few minutes of deep breathing. Sleep, often ignored, is another critical factor. According to Dr. Harikrishnan, a well-rested heart is stronger than one constantly fatigued. “If you give your heart six to seven hours of uninterrupted rest every night, you are already giving it medicine nature has designed,” he adds.
Hospitals across Kerala are now combining modern cardiology with lifestyle counseling, encouraging patients to make sustainable changes rather than quick fixes. Alongside, many families are turning to Ayurveda-based practices for complementary support. The integration of old and new, experts believe, can provide Kerala with a unique opportunity to fight back against the rising tide of heart disease.
For Kerala, the message is urgent but empowering. Heart health is not locked inside hospital walls. It lives in the daily choices of every household. A walk after dinner, a lighter hand with salt, the discipline of regular sleep, and the courage to quit smoking or alcohol—these simple shifts can protect a generation that is otherwise losing its heart too early.
