Mandakini Gupta, New Delhi: Nearly 30 per cent of people with heart diseases in India are under 35. But the abuse that leads to the first heart attack starts in the mid-20s, especially with people who live alone, mostly eat out or are under high stress.

"These days nobody believes in physical exercise. Earlier we used to cycle or walk a lot. These days life has become very stressful," cardiologist Dr. Naresh Trehan says.

People in their mid-30s are increasingly at risk of coronary diseases but the path that leads to the dreaded heart attack begins in the mid-20s.

"Fifty per cent of our population comprises 25-year-olds. I worry what will happen 10 years from now when these people will develop heart disease," cardiologist at Max Healthcare Dr. Ashok Seth says.

Like 26-year-old Mehul is a prime candidate for such a case – he is a journalist, lives alone and eats greasy street food all the time. So, what effect has his lifestyle had on his body?

"I was half my size five years ago. Then I went to the US and discovered junk food," says Mehul. This is the obvious effect but CNN-IBN decided to take Mehul for a few basic blood tests to see if he might be at risk of suffering from heart diseases.

Dr, Seth gave the verdict on Mehul saying, "If he doesn't take care then he could have problems in the future."

Doctors say it's easy to get away with abusing your body in the mid-20s because the damage does not show but over the years the constant abuse results in health complications that cannot be easily avoided.