New Delhi

India’s fast-growing fitness culture, driven by social media trends, rapid body transformation goals, and the pursuit of muscular physiques, is exposing many young people to serious cardiac risks, with medical experts warning that unsupervised steroid use, stimulant-heavy workout supplements, and extreme training routines are increasingly contributing to potentially life-threatening heart complications.

Cardiologists say they are witnessing a growing number of seemingly healthy young men arriving with symptoms ranging from irregular heartbeats and sudden spikes in blood pressure to structural cardiac abnormalities, conditions often linked to performance-enhancing substances and unsafe exercise practices.

Rahul Chandola, chairman of the Institute of Heart and Lung Diseases, said the problem is not exercise itself but the dangerous combinations many fitness enthusiasts are adopting.

“Regular exercise protects the heart. The real danger emerges when people combine intense workouts with anabolic steroids, stimulant-based supplements, dehydration, and unrealistic body-image expectations,” Chandola said.

According to him, doctors are increasingly encountering young individuals suffering from palpitations, abnormal heart rhythms, elevated blood pressure, and early signs of cardiac damage associated with unregulated supplement consumption.

Medical experts say sudden collapses and unexpected cardiac deaths among amateur bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts have become a matter of concern not only in India but globally.

Mayank Yadav said many consumers mistakenly believe that products sold online or promoted by fitness influencers are medically safe.

“Many young people assume that if a supplement is available on e-commerce platforms or endorsed by influencers, it must be harmless. That assumption can be dangerous because several formulations remain poorly regulated and are often consumed in excessive doses,” he said.

Doctors say India’s expanding fitness economy, coupled with the rise of “aesthetic fitness” on social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, has played a major role in normalising supplement use, body transformation challenges, and high-risk training practices among urban youth.

Recent international scientific studies have linked anabolic-androgenic steroid use to reduced pumping efficiency of the heart, thickening of cardiac muscles, and harmful structural remodelling that can significantly increase long-term cardiovascular risk.

Doctors also caution against the growing popularity of pre-workout powders loaded with caffeine and multiple stimulants.

“These products often contain very high caffeine concentrations combined with several stimulants. Some users take double servings or mix them with energy drinks, placing enormous stress on the cardiovascular system,” Chandola said.

Another major concern, experts say, is the absence of proper cardiac screening before individuals begin aggressive gym programmes or endurance training.

Chandola noted that many people may already have undetected heart abnormalities that remain silent until an intense workout triggers a catastrophic event.

“Many young individuals may carry hidden cardiac conditions that remain completely undiagnosed until something serious happens during strenuous exercise,” he said.

He also pointed out that standard annual health check-ups often fail to detect underlying cardiovascular disease.

“Many patients later tell us they recently had a normal health check-up. But most routine packages consist mainly of blood tests and a resting ECG, which provides only a limited snapshot of heart activity and may miss deeper structural or vascular problems,” he explained.

This, he said, often creates a false sense of security among individuals who may actually be at high risk.

Experts recommend that people involved in high-intensity gym training, endurance sports, or demanding fitness programmes—particularly those above 40 or with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking history, or a family history of heart disease—undergo more comprehensive cardiovascular evaluations.

Chandola said advances in AI-driven health monitoring and biosensor-based screening are opening new possibilities for early detection of hidden cardiac risks.

“The future of heart care lies in identifying vulnerable individuals before symptoms appear. Early detection can prevent many avoidable tragedies,” he said.

Yadav urged young fitness enthusiasts to avoid shortcuts to rapid muscle gain and consult qualified professionals before consuming performance-enhancing substances.

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“Fitness should ultimately improve health and longevity, not compromise the heart in pursuit of appearance-driven goals or social media validation,” he said.