It has been 8 years since I was diagnosed with Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease). My blood tests were mostly normal and there were no real red flags. And yet, there I was: at the 98th percentile of calcification of my arteries for my age.
Once I was over the initial shock, I realized I was actually incredibly lucky. Cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths (32%) than the next 4 biggest causes of death combined (all the cancers, respiratory disease, diabetes and dementia). According to Stanford Health, among South Asians, heart attacks are happening earlier (25% of heart attacks occur under age 40, and 50% occur under age 50) and with higher mortality rates (there is a 40% higher chance of mortality from heart attacks among South Asians than the average population).
It led to me making a lot of changes to my lifestyle (food, exercise, sleep) in ways that did not require me to give up eating and doing all the things I love. To ensure my changes were medically, scientifically and nutritionally sound, I worked very closely with a number of amazing clinicians, dietitians and exercise trainers.
I am sharing a few of the improvements I have seen in my health parameters through this journey to demonstrate how effective these changes have been while being quite simple to implement. Moving forward, I will share my learnings and observations on these interventions through my GeneClinicX Instagram account and on my LinkedIn account, that I hope can help those of you that are looking for sustainable and fun ways to stay or become healthy. Your feedback and questions are very welcome!
![Taking on Heart Disease: My Path to Better Health](http://www.geneclinicx.com/cdn/shop/articles/Slide1.jpg?v=1697100683&width=1100)
82 comments
Madhavi Anturkar: Wow Nickhil, this is really amazing… congratulations
Nickhil Jakatdar: Madhavi, Thanks as always for your support!
Ashish Shete: Can you measure if there has been a change in the calcification of your arteries?
Nickhil Jakatdar: Ashish one can do a calcium CT-scan again to check the change. But it’s no reversible so one has to focus on ensuring it’s not increasing at as rapid a pace as it was. That’s where the lifestyle changes help.
Anu Pansare: Nikhil hope all is well with your health. The above 👆 is so true diet, exercise, sleep are key to health.
Nickhil Jakatdar: Thanks. All is well at my end post the interventions. This is truly a lifestyle disease and therefore can primarily be fixed by the right lifestyle changes.
Sarita Biswas: Good to hear you have made the necessary changes to your lifestyle… keep it up, Nikhil.
Anurag Mairal: May I share this with my friends?
Nickhil Jakatdar: Anurag absolutely!