World Heart Day: Doctors warn of rising risk among youth as heart emergencies surge in Gujarat

Gujarat is seeing a steep increase in heart-related emergencies, with state health data showing more than two lakh people affected since 2023. More than half- -57%---of these cases are men.

As of September 25, the state’s 108 emergency services had already logged 62,039 heart emergencies -- an average of 232 a day. In 2020, the daily average was 105, with a total of 38,386 cases for the year. During the same nine-month period last year, 52,973 cases were recorded, marking a 15% jump this year.

From 2023 to September 2025, 1,98,596 people in Gujarat have needed emergency treatment for heart conditions. Of these, 1,13,468 are men and 85,065 are women. Based on current trends, experts project that about 84,980 people will require heart-emergency services by the end of 2025. Ahmedabad, Surat, and Rajkot have reported the highest numbers over the past three years.

Growing burden of heart failure

Heart failure itself remains a significant challenge. It affects roughly 1% of the Indian population and about 2% globally, rising to nearly 10% among people aged over 70. Physicians warn that chronic stress, depression, or anger can elevate blood pressure and heart rate, further increasing the risk of long-term damage.

Lifestyle and stress key factors

Cardiologist Dr Jayesh Prajapati said professional stress, long working hours, and inadequate rest are “hidden contributors” to heart disease. He stressed that seven to eight hours of deep sleep is as important as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and prescribed medication.

Doctors caution that younger people are increasingly vulnerable. Stress, unstable relationships, poor diets, and sedentary lifestyles are common triggers. Emotional trauma can also lead to “broken heart syndrome,” or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, in which sudden stress—such as the death of a loved one or a painful breakup—produces symptoms similar to a heart attack, including chest pain and difficulty in breathing.

Though treatable, broken heart syndrome can place prolonged pressure on the cardiovascular system and may cause lasting damage. 

New research offers cautious hope

While heart muscle damage has long been considered irreversible, emerging science suggests the organ may have a limited ability to repair itself. A study published last December in Circulation found that some patients fitted with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs)—mechanical pumps that support the heart when it is too weak to circulate blood—showed signs of heart muscle regeneration.

LVADs reduce the heart’s workload by partially taking over its pumping action, allowing the muscle to rest and recover, much as skeletal muscle heals after an injury. Researchers observed that about a quarter of LVAD patients experienced measurable recovery of heart function.

Dr Hesham Sadek, the study’s co-lead and director of the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona, said the next challenge is to understand why only some patients respond. Scientists caution that the therapy is not yet a cure and remains effective for a limited group, but it raises new possibilities for treating heart failure in the future.