Three young on-duty Indian doctors, 37, 39, 41, die of heart attacks within 2 years: What doctors advice for professionals working long, stressful hours?

Within a couple of years, India has witnessed the sudden deaths of three young doctors while on duty, highlighting the hidden risks of relentless work schedules in high-pressure medical professions. Dr. Gradlin Roy, 39, a cardiac surgeon collapsed during ward rounds and could not be revived despite CPR, stenting, intra-aortic balloon pump support, and ECMO intervention, as reported by Medical Dialogues. He is survived by his wife and young son.

Earlier, 37-year-old Dr. Adil Amin, a senior resident at Delhi’s Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, also suffered a fatal heart attack during duty rounds, according to a Medical Dialogues report from December 2024. In 2023, renowned Gujarat-based cardiologist Dr. Gaurav Gandhi, 41, collapsed at home despite normal ECG readings, as per The Indian Express, raising concerns about heart health in young medical professionals.

Why Doctors Are at Risk

Experts say the common thread is chronic stress, long shifts, and neglect of personal health. Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a CMC Vellore–trained neurologist, told Medical Dialogues, “When the healer falls, it must serve as a wake-up call for doctors’ heart health.”

The pressures include:

• Extended and erratic work hours disrupting sleep
• Continuous stress from life-and-death decisions and patient expectations
• Minimal opportunities for exercise or healthy meals
• Emotional and psychological strain leading to anxiety, depression, and burnout

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO), long working hours caused 745,000 deaths globally in 2016, with heart disease and stroke rising sharply among those working 55+ hours weekly.

Medical Fraternity Voices Concerns

Delhi-based cardio-thoracic surgeon Dr. Chandranshu Chaudhary described Dr. Roy’s death on LinkedIn as the culmination of “years of insults” to the body due to excessive work. He urged hospitals to enforce mandatory rest periods and vacations for doctors, emphasizing that work should be “enjoyable, not punishing.”

Dr. Dheeraj Maheshwari, forensic medicine specialist, highlighted on LinkedIn that even the most knowledgeable doctors cannot withstand chronic stress and exhaustion indefinitely, stressing that rest and family time are essential for a doctor’s ability to deliver care. Satyamurthy Nageswaran, Project Director at Apollo Energy, called for systemic reforms to ensure reasonable shift limits and a culture of sustainable work practices.

Experts Advise Proactive Health Measures

In light of these tragedies, experts recommend the following for professionals under high stress, as per Medical Dialogues and The Indian Express:

• Regular screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and cardiac biomarkers
• Seven hours of sleep, even if fragmented, and stress management through yoga or meditation
• At least 30 minutes of daily cardiovascular exercise like brisk walking or cycling
• Healthy meals, avoiding excess caffeine, processed foods, and late-night eating
• Awareness of familial and genetic risk factors, including LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and calcium score tests

Dr. Rajiv B Bhagwat, Interventional Cardiologist at Nanavati Max Hospital, told The Indian Express that Indian professionals are at higher risk due to genetic predispositions, often requiring aggressive management of LDL and triglyceride levels even in seemingly healthy individuals.

A Call to Value Life Before It’s Too Late

These losses serve as a sobering reminder that no amount of medical knowledge can offset the physical toll of chronic stress and overwork. Health experts warn that professionals must prioritize self-care, monitor their heart health proactively, and recognize rest and mental well-being as essential components of sustainable work-life balance.

As Dr. Maheshwari noted on LinkedIn, “Rest is not laziness, and time with family is not a luxury. It is a necessity.” According to Dr. Chandranshu Chaudhary, hospitals must “save the lives of those who are saving others’ lives,” making proactive health measures and sustainable schedules a professional imperative.