Wakad and Baner have rapidly transformed into major IT and corporate hubs of Pune. With modern offices, high salaries, and global exposure, the lifestyle of IT professionals appears comfortable on the surface. However, behind this success story lies a worrying health trend: a sharp rise in heart problems among young and middle-aged professionals.
As a cardiologist in Pune, Dr. Kartik Bhosale has observed a growing number of IT employees visiting clinics with complaints like chest discomfort, palpitations, breathlessness, unexplained fatigue, and high blood pressure, often at an age when heart disease was once considered unlikely. Understanding why this is happening is the first step toward prevention.
Long Sitting Hours and Sedentary Lifestyle:
One of the biggest contributors to heart problems among IT professionals is prolonged sitting. Most professionals spend 8–12 hours a day seated, often without regular breaks.
Lack of physical movement leads to:
- Poor blood circulation
- Weight gain and abdominal obesity
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Insulin resistance
Even individuals who go to the gym occasionally may still be at risk if the rest of the day is spent sitting continuously. From a heart health perspective, consistent daily movement matters more than occasional workouts.
High Stress and Constant Mental Pressure:
Deadlines, performance targets, client expectations, night calls, and job insecurity contribute to chronic stress. Unlike physical stress, mental stress often goes unnoticed but directly affects heart health.
Chronic stress causes:
- Persistent high blood pressure
- Increased heart rate
- Hormonal imbalance (raised cortisol levels)
- Inflammation of blood vessels
According to Dr. Kartik Bhosale, many young professionals with no previous illness develop stress-induced hypertension or early heart disease, simply because stress management is ignored.
Irregular Sleep Patterns and Night Shifts:
Many IT professionals in Wakad and Baner work with global clients, leading to night shifts and rotating schedules. This disrupts the body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Poor sleep is strongly linked to:
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Increased risk of heart attacks
Sleeping less than 6 hours regularly puts extra strain on the heart. Unfortunately, caffeine dependency and screen exposure further worsen sleep quality.
Unhealthy Eating Habits and Food Choices:
Busy work schedules often result in:
- Skipping meals
- Eating late at night
- Dependence on fast food, packaged snacks, and sugary beverages
Regular consumption of high-salt, high-fat, and high-sugar foods increases cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Over time, this leads to blockages in heart arteries, even in people under 40.
As a heart specialist in Pune, Dr. Kartik Bhosale frequently emphasizes that diet-related heart damage develops silently and becomes visible only when symptoms appear.
Lack of Regular Health Check-Ups:
Many IT professionals assume they are healthy because they are young and active at work. Unfortunately, heart disease does not always give early warning signs.
Conditions like:
- High BP
- High cholesterol
- Early diabetes
- Silent heart ischemia
can remain undetected for years without routine screening. By the time symptoms occur, the condition may already be advanced.
Regular heart check-ups can detect problems early and prevent major cardiac events.
Smoking, Alcohol, and Social Habits:
Work stress often pushes professionals toward smoking or frequent alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism. Social drinking after office hours is common in IT culture.
These habits:
- Damage blood vessels
- Increase blood pressure
- Accelerate plaque formation in arteries
Even “occasional” smoking or weekend drinking can significantly increase heart risk when combined with stress and lack of exercise.
Early Onset of Lifestyle Diseases:
What is most concerning today is the early age at which lifestyle diseases are appearing. Conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol—once common after 50—are now seen in people in their early 30s.
These conditions together multiply heart risk. A person with diabetes and high BP has a much higher chance of developing heart disease, even if symptoms are mild.
Why IT Professionals Should Take Heart Health Seriously?
Heart problems do not always start with dramatic chest pain. Many patients experience subtle symptoms such as:
- Tiredness after minor activity
- Mild chest heaviness
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety or sleep disturbance
Ignoring these signs can be dangerous. Early diagnosis and lifestyle correction can reverse or control most heart-related issues if addressed on time.
Expert Advice by Dr. Kartik Bhosale:
Dr. Kartik Bhosale, a trusted cardiologist in Pune, advises IT professionals to follow simple but consistent heart-care habits:
- Take a 5-minute walking break every hour
- Aim for at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity
- Maintain fixed sleep and meal timings
- Reduce salt, sugar, and processed food
- Manage stress through relaxation techniques
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol
- Get annual heart health check-ups
According to him, prevention is far easier and safer than treatment when it comes to heart disease.
Conclusion: Your Career Is Important, but So Is Your Heart
The rise in heart problems among Wakad–Baner IT professionals is not a coincidence. It is the result of modern work culture, stress, poor lifestyle habits, and delayed medical attention.
The good news is that heart disease is largely preventable. Awareness, timely action, and guidance from an experienced heart specialist in Pune can make a life-changing difference.
If you are an IT professional experiencing symptoms or simply want to stay ahead of heart disease, consulting an expert like Dr. Kartik Bhosale can help you protect your most valuable asset—your heart.