A 39-year-old cardiac surgeon from Chennai, Dr. Gradlin Roy, collapsed during routine ward rounds at Saveetha Medical Hospital on Wednesday. Despite immediate medical intervention, including CPR, angioplasty with stenting, an intra-aortic balloon pump, and ECMO, his colleagues could not revive him. He succumbed to a massive cardiac arrest caused by a 100% blockage in the left main artery.
Dr. Roy is survived by his wife and young son.
Neurologist Raises Alarm on Doctors’ Heart Health
Neurologist Dr. Sudhir Kumar shared the tragic news on X, describing it as a “wake-up call” for the medical community. “The irony is stark: those who dedicate their lives to saving others’ hearts are often neglecting their own,” he wrote. Dr. Kumar highlighted that young doctors in their 30s and 40s are increasingly falling victim to sudden cardiac events.
Risk Factors That Make Doctors Vulnerable
According to Dr. Kumar, several lifestyle and occupational factors put doctors at higher risk of heart disease:
- Long, erratic work hours leading to chronic sleep deprivation and disrupted circadian rhythms
- High stress levels caused by decision fatigue, constant patient demands, and medicolegal pressures
- Sedentary lifestyles marked by long hours in operating theatres or outpatient clinics with little time for exercise
- Unhealthy eating habits such as irregular meals, canteen food, and excessive caffeine intake
- Neglect of preventive care, including skipped health check-ups and ignored early warning signs
- Psychological burden, including burnout, depression, and emotional exhaustion
- Higher incidence of smoking and alcohol use among some practitioners
Social Media Reacts with Concern
Tributes poured in on social media, where users expressed both grief and concern about doctors’ working conditions. One user wrote, “The sleep deprivation has started to trouble me as I’m a victim of it.” Another asked, “Pilots have compulsory rest time. Why can’t doctors have it?” Dr. Kumar responded that sleep-deprived doctors may make errors in diagnosis and treatment, yet many junior doctors have no choice but to work despite exhaustion.
Broader Trends in Heart Health
Cardiac surgeon Dr. V. V. Bashi also recently warned of increasing heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrests among young Indians. He attributed the trend to early-onset diabetes, rising obesity, poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, and uncontrolled hypertension.
He further cautioned that fitness does not guarantee protection. Several recent cases have shown seemingly healthy people collapsing in gyms. According to Dr. Bashi, hidden heart conditions, overexertion, and overlooked symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, or mild chest discomfort can all contribute to sudden cardiac events.
Reported by: India Today and Hindustan Times