Heart Health

 The most cost-effective way to reduce heart diseases and a recipe for long life are shared by one of the world's leading cardiologists. 

The 2025 American Heart Association Distinguished Scientist Award was presented to Sanjay Rajagopalan, Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at University Hospitals Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute and Director of the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio. Recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to our understanding of cardiovascular disease and stroke is the Association's highest honor. The work of Rajagopalan has helped to shift global perceptions and comprehension regarding the impact of environmental risk factors on cardiovascular disease. 

In addition, he has contributed to the creation of new cardiovascular disease treatments and is an authority on the development of novel imaging strategies for complex heart diseases. "It is deeply humbling to receive this award, not only for the recognition of my work but more importantly for the recognition that environment and heart health are finally being seen as inseparable," says Dr Rajagopalan.  "The heart does not beat in isolation.

 A tremendous honor and a highly regarded acknowledgement of the work. It is a unique privilege to be chosen from thousands of cardiologists each year. I'm thrilled, but I'm also thrilled by what this means for the science I'm involved in. It acknowledges the work that is related to science research as well as translational research, which is the foundation of everything we do in cardiology. It is based on evidence. The award is really a nod to the research that goes into cardiology decision-making and a link to the work I've done in the environment space. 

Air pollution is the second leading cause of global mortality right after hypertension, which is the leading cause.  There are no additional environmental variables included. Because of the math involved, if you add up all the knowns and find that we know very little about environmental risk factors, that's a part of it that ought to be a wake-up call, especially in India, which is in the crosshairs of multiple environmental exposures. Everybody is entitled to good, clean air, clean water, and clean food.  

Air pollution exposure should be drastically reduced, especially in vulnerable communities where children are a major concern. Early exposure during childhood causes permanent damage to your lung capacity or sets you up for future problems.  Since it is not a problem that individuals can solve, it is changes at policy and governmental levels that are very important.  In light of the fact that this is such a huge human tragedy, there really needs to be a no-tolerance policy, and all hands on deck in terms of solving the problem.

 I collaborate with researchers to try to create useful or quasi-natural experiments that could help shape policy. I'd be happy to work with the Indian government in any way because I care a lot about the environment, especially in places where policy changes or actions could make a big difference in population health. 

The biggest point of convergence that shouldn't take any convincing for everybody is children's health.  I hope that children's health is a rallying cry for people to unite in their opposition to anything detrimental to kids.  In the United States, it's the same. This tsunami of diabetes and obesity is real. Despite a decline in smoking rates, there has been an increase in practices like vaping. Hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and elevation in LDL cholesterol are driving heart disease globally.