Veteran actor and filmmaker Rakesh Roshan recently shared a health update that shows the importance of regular health check-ups. Earlier today, he took to his Instagram, where the 75-year-old revealed that a routine health check-up helped doctors detect a serious issue. The check-up revealed that there was over 75 per cent blockage in both his carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain.
What’s alarming is that he had no symptoms at all. The issue was discovered by chance, when the doctor doing his heart sonography suggested doing one for the neck as well. This additional test turned out to be lifesaving.
“By chance, we found out that although asymptomatic, both my carotid arteries to the brain were above 75 percent blocked, which if ignored, could be potentially dangerous,” Rakesh wrote in his post.
“I’m lucky it was caught early,” says Roshan
Rakesh Roshan underwent a preventive procedure immediately after the blockage was found and is now back home recovering.
“I am back home now, fully recovered, and hope to get back to my workouts very soon. I hope this inspires others to stay on top of their health, especially where the heart and brain are concerned,” he further wrote.
He strongly urged people over the age of 45 or 50 to go beyond basic tests and get both a heart CT scan and a carotid artery sonography.
Why are regular health check-ups important?
According to Dr. Sitla Prasad Pathak, Principal Consultant, Neurosciences, Neurology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, everyone above the age of 30 should go for at least one complete health check-up every year. And if you have conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a family history of heart disease, you may need to get screened even more frequently.
“Regular health screenings help detect silent diseases before they cause serious damage,” says Dr. Pathak. These visits can help catch early warning signs of chronic conditions and set you on the right treatment path early.
Regular check-ups can help detect:
- Carotid artery disease
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Type 2 diabetes
- Kidney problems
- Early signs of cancer or liver damage
Data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) shows that over 101 million Indians live with diabetes, and nearly half of them don’t even know they have it. Similarly, high blood pressure affects over 200 million Indians, many of whom remain undiagnosed until they develop complications.
What is carotid artery disease?
One condition that often goes unnoticed until it’s too late is carotid artery disease. This happens when fatty deposits like plaque, cholesterol, and calcium build up inside the carotid arteries, major blood vessels in your neck that supply blood to your brain.
This buildup, medically known as atherosclerosis, narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow. If left untreated, it can increase your risk of a stroke, a potentially life-threatening condition where brain cells begin to die due to lack of oxygen.
Can it stay silent for years?
Yes. “Carotid artery disease can remain silent and show no symptoms for years,” says Dr. Pathak. That’s what makes it so dangerous. In many cases, it is only discovered after a person experiences a mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack) or a major stroke.
However, there are some warning signs to watch for:
- Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance
- Trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden vision changes or vision loss
Sometimes, doctors may detect a whooshing sound in the neck using a stethoscope, which can hint at a problem in the carotid arteries. But this isn’t always reliable, which is why tests like neck sonography or carotid ultrasound are important—especially for people over 45 or with risk factors.
Prevention is always better than cure
As Rakesh Roshan rightly said, “Prevention is always better than cure.” Getting regular health checks, even if you feel fine, can catch hidden problems early, when they are easiest to treat or manage. Your body may not always show signs when something’s wrong. But a simple test might just save your life.
