Too Young to Die: Heart Attacks in Young Sri Lankans

It has been almost a year since the sudden passing of Dilan Perera*. He was just 30, recently married, and full of dreams. As a marketing executive, Dilan led what seemed like a balanced life—long work hours, vibrant social life, regular badminton, gym sessions, and time with friends. He occasionally smoked a few cigarettes.

One evening, while playing badminton after work, Dilan collapsed. His friends rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead on arrival. The cause: a massive heart attack. 

His wife was devastated. His mother—who had already lost her husband to a heart attack—was inconsolable. Neighbours, friends, and family who came together for his funeral were stunned. How could someone so young, athletic, and seemingly healthy die so suddenly?

As a family physician, I am deeply troubled. Are heart attacks really becoming more common among Sri Lanka’s youth? Sadly, the answer is yes.

The Growing Burden in Sri Lanka

Once celebrated for its success against infectious diseases like malaria, diarrhoea, and tuberculosis, Sri Lanka now faces a stealthier threat: non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These are now responsible for about 83% of all deaths in the country (1).

At the forefront of this crisis is cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly ischaemic heart disease (heart attacks), which dominates the death toll. In Sri Lanka, coronary artery disease constitutes around 34% of all deaths in some postmortem studies—a share that eclipses comparable rates in Western nations (2). In 2019, an estimated 17,144 Sri Lankans died from CVDs, comprising roughly 28% of all deaths—a sharp increase from the 25% share in 2004 (3). 

What makes this crisis even more alarming is its reach into younger generations. Nearly one in five patients admitted to hospital with a heart attack is under the age of 45. These are men and women in the prime of their lives—building careers, raising families, dreaming of the future—struck down suddenly and unexpectedly.

Why Do Young People Get Heart Attacks?

South Asians, including Sri Lankans, are particularly vulnerable, developing coronary artery disease about 10 years earlier than Western populations. Studies show that 25% of heart attacks occur under age 40, and 50% under age 50 in this group (4).

Several risk factors fuel this early crisis. Hypertension affects nearly one in three adults in Sri Lanka (5). Diabetes and pre-diabetes affect more than 70% of adults in the Western Province, the country’s most urban region (6). On top of this, around 75% of adults live with some form of dyslipidemia, most often low levels of protective HDL cholesterol (7).

Lifestyle changes have worsened the picture: long working hours, screen time, fast-food culture, smoking, alcohol, and poor sleep silently damage arteries and accelerate disease.

Warning Signs Often Ignored

Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden fainting after exertion are often dismissed as “gastritis” or stress. As a result, young patients frequently arrive at hospital too late. Experts recommend that men over 30 and women over 35 undergo basic heart check-ups, especially if there is a family history (4–6).

For some, the first symptom is tragically the last-sudden death, leaving families in shock, as in Dilan’s case. 

Protecting Your Heart: Prevention Matters

The hopeful truth is that most heart attacks don’t have to happen. With the right steps, Sri Lankans can take control of their health today and protect their hearts for tomorrow.

Eat Smart: Reduce fried, oily, and processed foods; fill half the plate with vegetables; add fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins; cut sugar and salt.

Stay Active: At least 150 minutes per week of moderate activity, plus two strength sessions. Even small changes—walking after work, stretching at the desk—help.

Quit Smoking & Limit Alcohol: Even “social smoking” harms the arteries. Alcohol should be minimal or avoided.

Manage Stress & Sleep: Mindfulness, prayer, or relaxation techniques restore balance. Aim for 7–8 hours of sleep nightly.

Screen Early: Regular checks of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol are essential. Prevention must begin early—by our 20s and 30s.

A Call to Action

Dilan’s story is heartbreaking but far from rare. Every week, Sri Lanka loses young fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters to sudden heart attacks. The tragedy is not just in the loss of life, but in the loss of futures. 

That is why prevention cannot wait until middle age—it must begin today. As a nation, we need to rethink the way we live, eat, work, and rest. Because in the end, health is our greatest wealth.

References

World Health Organization. Sri Lanka National Multisectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases 2016–2020. Knowledge Action Portal [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Sep 6]. Available from: https://knowledge-action-portal.com/en/content/sri-lanka-national-multisectoral-action-plan-prevention-and-control-chronic-non