Genes, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Together Shape Your ‘Heart Health Horoscope’: Dr Naresh Trehan

Heart Health is not determined by a single factor. According to cardiac surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan, chairman and managing director of Medanta, a person’s genes, biomarkers and lifestyle collectively influence their cardiovascular risk. On World Heart Day, he highlighted why understanding individual risk factors may be more useful than following extreme diets or punishing exercise routines.

Cardiovascular disease can develop through a combination of inherited susceptibility, biological changes and everyday behaviours. While some risk factors cannot be changed, many lifestyle-related factors can be addressed through regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress and paying attention to important health measurements.

What Is a ‘Heart Health Horoscope’?

Dr Trehan’s description of heart health as a kind of “horoscope” brings together three broad areas that can influence cardiovascular risk: genetics, biomarkers and lifestyle.

Genes can contribute to a person’s underlying susceptibility to certain cardiovascular conditions. Biomarkers and health measurements can provide information about what is happening inside the body, while lifestyle factors can influence several modifiable risks over time.

Together, these factors can provide a more individualised picture of cardiovascular health than looking at any single measurement in isolation.

Genes Can Influence Cardiovascular Risk

Some aspects of cardiovascular risk are inherited. A person’s family history can provide important clues about their susceptibility to heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.

However, having a family history of heart disease does not mean that an individual will inevitably develop cardiovascular disease. Similarly, the absence of a known family history does not eliminate risk.

Genetic information is therefore best considered as one component of a broader assessment of cardiovascular health rather than as a prediction of an individual’s future on its own.

Why Biomarkers Matter for Heart Health

Biomarkers can provide measurable information about processes associated with cardiovascular health. Depending on the individual and clinical context, doctors may monitor factors such as blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels when assessing cardiovascular risk.

These measurements can reveal risk factors that may not produce obvious symptoms. A person can feel healthy while having elevated blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol or impaired glucose regulation.

This is one reason routine health assessments can be useful, particularly for people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Lifestyle Remains an Important Part of the Picture

Genes and biomarkers are only part of the cardiovascular-risk equation. Lifestyle also plays an important role.

Dr Trehan’s message emphasises that protecting the heart does not necessarily require extreme diets or exhausting exercise routines. Instead, sustainable habits such as staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress can form the foundation of long-term heart care.

The emphasis on consistency is important because cardiovascular health is influenced by habits accumulated over months and years rather than by occasional bursts of intense activity.

Physical Activity Does Not Have to Mean Punishing Workouts

Regular movement is an important component of cardiovascular health, but the most effective activity programme is not necessarily the most extreme one.

For many people, incorporating physical activity into daily life can be more sustainable than attempting demanding workouts that are difficult to maintain. Walking, cycling, swimming, strength exercises and other forms of movement can all contribute to an active lifestyle, depending on an individual’s health and physical abilities.

People with existing heart conditions or significant health problems should discuss appropriate exercise intensity with their healthcare professional before beginning a new programme.

Maintaining a Healthy Weight Supports Heart Health

Body weight is another factor that can influence cardiovascular health. Maintaining a healthy weight can form part of a broader strategy for managing metabolic and cardiovascular risk.

However, weight should not be considered in isolation. Blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, physical activity, diet, sleep, family history and other factors can also contribute to an individual’s overall cardiovascular profile.

This reinforces the idea that there is no single number or measurement that completely describes a person’s heart health.

Stress Is Also Part of the Conversation

Stress management is another element highlighted in the World Heart Day message.

Modern lifestyles can involve sustained psychological and occupational pressures, and chronic stress can make healthy routines more difficult to maintain. Stress may affect sleep, eating patterns and physical activity, which can indirectly influence cardiovascular risk factors.

Managing stress does not mean eliminating every source of pressure. Practical strategies may include adequate sleep, regular physical activity, relaxation practices, social connection and seeking professional support when stress becomes difficult to manage.

Extreme Diets Are Not a Shortcut to Better Heart Health

There is often an assumption that protecting the heart requires following highly restrictive diets or eliminating large groups of foods. In practice, long-term dietary patterns and overall nutritional quality are more relevant than short-lived extreme measures.

A heart-conscious eating pattern generally focuses on a balanced diet that provides appropriate amounts of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein sources and healthy fats while limiting excessive intake of highly processed foods, added sugars and excess sodium.

Individual dietary requirements can differ, particularly for people with diabetes, kidney disease or established cardiovascular conditions. Personalised nutritional advice may therefore be appropriate in such circumstances.

Knowing Your Risk Can Encourage Earlier Action

One of the practical implications of looking at genes, biomarkers and lifestyle together is that cardiovascular risk can be considered before symptoms become apparent.

High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol and abnormal blood glucose may not cause noticeable symptoms for years. Regular health checks can help identify such issues and provide an opportunity to address modifiable risk factors.

People with a strong family history of premature cardiovascular disease may also benefit from discussing their risk profile with a healthcare professional.

Heart Health Is More Personal Than a One-Size-Fits-All Formula

Two people with similar lifestyles can have different cardiovascular risk profiles because their genetics, age, medical history and biological measurements may differ. Conversely, someone with inherited risk can potentially address several modifiable factors through appropriate lifestyle and medical care.

This makes personalised risk assessment an important concept in preventive cardiology. Rather than relying on a single diet, exercise trend or health measurement, cardiovascular prevention can involve examining the combination of factors that apply to a particular person.

Simple Habits Can Add Up Over Time

Protecting heart health does not necessarily require dramatic changes overnight. Sustainable habits can include moving regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, avoiding tobacco, getting adequate sleep and keeping track of relevant health measurements.

When abnormalities such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or elevated blood glucose are identified, medical treatment may also be necessary. Lifestyle measures and prescribed treatment can work together rather than being viewed as alternatives.

Conclusion

Dr Naresh Trehan’s “heart health horoscope” analogy highlights the multifactorial nature of cardiovascular risk. Genes can influence susceptibility, biomarkers can reveal important changes in the body, and lifestyle can affect several modifiable risk factors.

The message for World Heart Day is therefore less about extreme measures and more about understanding personal risk and building sustainable habits. Staying active, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress and monitoring important health parameters can all form part of a broader approach to cardiovascular prevention.

Ultimately, knowing your cardiovascular risk profile can help you and your healthcare team identify areas that may need attention. Heart health is not determined by one factor—and improving it does not have to depend on extreme measures.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes and does not replace personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Individuals with cardiovascular risk factors or existing heart conditions should consult a qualified healthcare professional for an appropriate assessment and care plan.

Meta Title: Heart Health Horoscope: How Genes, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Shape Risk

Meta Description: Dr Naresh Trehan explains how genes, biomarkers and lifestyle collectively influence heart health, and why sustainable habits matter for cardiovascular prevention.