Before It’s Too Late

Shahryar was 35 years old, working full-time at a private firm. His life followed a predictable rhythm: leaving home at 9 a.m., returning exhausted at 6 p.m., helping his children with homework, occasionally assisting his wife in the kitchen, and falling asleep watching television.

Ten years earlier, he had been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. But deep down, he never fully accepted it. He’d often joke with friends, “It’s just borderline sugar,” as he reached for another sweet at a wedding. His behavior reflected that denial—he skipped medications, avoided exercise, and never took his condition seriously.

One afternoon, while sitting at his desk, he felt an odd tightness in his chest. It wasn’t sharp pain—just pressure. A sense of weight sat over his sternum, accompanied by light sweating and a strange discomfort down his left arm. Shahryar leaned back, took a few deep breaths, drank some water, and told himself it must be indigestion. He asked a colleague to get him some mint tea and resumed working.

That evening, he told his wife about it. She looked worried and suggested going to the hospital. He dismissed it. “Probably just stress,” he said. “I'll be fine after some warm milk.”

Over the next week, similar episodes returned—fatigue, heaviness in the chest, and even breathlessness while climbing stairs. But Shahryar was stubborn. He began visiting a nearby traditional herbalist who gave him herbal tonics and assured him that everything was fine. He avoided modern cardiac medications, believing that starting them meant being tied to pills forever.

Months passed. Then came a Thursday evening.

Shahryar was walking home from work. Just as he turned onto his street, he collapsed without warning. Neighbors ran to help. Someone called his wife, another flagged down a rickshaw, and within minutes he was at the emergency department of a local hospital.

The ECG confirmed what the doctors had feared: a major heart attack.

The attending physician looked at the monitor and said quietly, “He’s had another one before this… probably a silent heart attack a few weeks ago.”

He was rushed in for an angiography. The results were worse than expected—three major arteries were completely blocked. His condition was unstable. Bypass surgery was ruled out. A stent was attempted, but Shahryar’s heart was already severely damaged.

The following weeks were a blur of hospital visits, medications, and desperate prayers. He could no longer work. He barely spoke. Once in a while, he’d quietly call his wife over and whisper instructions—how to pay school fees, where to find documents, passwords to his bank account. He hugged his daughter and said, “Take care of her when I’m not around,” tears quietly rolling down his cheeks.

Then, one evening, it happened.

The heart monitor went silent. The nurses rushed in, but he was gone.

His wife screamed. His children stood frozen, not knowing how to respond. His mother collapsed in the hallway. The silence that followed felt louder than anything the family had ever heard.


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This isn’t just Shahryar’s story.

It’s the story of countless men in their 30s and 40s—those who ignore symptoms, avoid checkups, trust advice from friends over doctors, and hope that strong will alone will keep them safe.

As a cardiologist, I’ve seen this play out more times than I can count. Perfectly healthy-looking men falling victim to lifestyle diseases because they didn’t take them seriously. Sugar, cholesterol, high blood pressure—these aren’t just numbers on a lab report. Over time, they silently choke the life out of your heart.


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Signs You Should Never Ignore:

Pressure or discomfort in the chest

Pain radiating to the left arm, jaw, or back

Shortness of breath while doing mild activity

Dizziness or unusual fatigue

Cold sweat or a sense of dread


If you or someone you love has diabetes, heart history, or even mild symptoms—do not ignore them. Get an ECG. Visit a cardiologist. Don’t rely on home remedies or non-medical advice when your heart is at risk.


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Shahryar had everything to live for—a loving family, young children, a stable job. But he waited too long. And in that silence, his body gave out before his heart ever truly did.

If you're reading this and it reminds you of someone—stop them before it's too late. A small test today can save decades of heartbreak later.


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Take care of your heart. It beats not just for you, but for everyone who waits for you at home.