Can non-smokers, non-diabetics and thin people get a heart attack? (Watch video)

Even thin, non-smoking people can be at a risk of arteries blockage.

It is believed that only obese and old people could be at the risk of a heart blockage. But defying this notion, a new study has claimed that even a person who doesn't smoke or is a non-diabetic and even has a normal body weight can be at a risk of blockage in the arteries. In fact, reports say that half of the population of non-smoking healthy weight people in their middle age have clogged arteries. This study rings an alarm bell among all those people who were believing that they were healthy enough to never have a heart blockage.

The reason cited behind the research is 'bad cholesterol' better known as LDL levels. High level of LDL levels can even be found in people who aren't fat or diabetic or non-smokers. However, the study does mention that overweight/obese people or people having an unhealthy lifestyle like smoking etc. are definitely at a higher risk of clogged arteries but that doesn't mean that thin people/non-smokers and non-diabetics can take a sigh of relief.

However, talking about the way to help prevent situations of heart-attack would be a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a healthy diet. Opting for a holistic lifestyle and defeating stress can contribute to a healthy lifestyle which in turn can help keep head diseases and other cardiovascular diseases at bay. In an interview with India s leading heart surgeon, chief consultant for cardiovascular thoracic surgery, vice Chairman & M D, Asian Heart Institute, he cited that even though challenging, a healthy lifestyle is the main way to a healthy heart. He further said, 'Angioplasty doesn t cure heart diseases only controls it. Angioplasty is mainly removing the blockage but if a good lifestyle isn t maintained, your heart may get blocked again. Extensive care after angioplasty is very important.'

You can watch the whole interview here:

Study references:

Koenig, W., Sund, M., Fr hlich, M., Fischer, H. G., L wel, H., D ring, A., ... & Pepys, M. B. (1999). C-reactive protein, a sensitive marker of inflammation, predicts future risk of coronary heart disease in initially healthy middle-aged men. Circulation, 99(2), 237-242.

Rimm, E. B., Stampfer, M. J., Giovannucci, E., Ascherio, A., Spiegelman, D., Colditz, G. A., & Willett, W. C. (1995). Body size and fat distribution as predictors of coronary heart disease among middle-aged and older US men. American Journal of Epidemiology, 141(12), 1117-1127.

Burke, G. L., Evans, G. W., Riley, W. A., Sharrett, A. R., Howard, G., Barnes, R. W., ... & Heiss, G. (1995). Arterial wall thickness is associated with prevalent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged adults. Stroke, 26(3), 386-391.

Shaper, A. G., Wannamethee, S. G., & Walker, M. (1997). Body weight: implications for the prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes mellitus in a cohort study of middle aged men. Bmj, 314(7090), 1311.