‘Heart attack LinkedIn survivor’: IIM alumnus shares post after health scare, gets trolled

Despite the divided reactions, Harsh Macwan’s post has reignited discussions around workplace stress, burnout.

In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in heart attack cases among younger adults, with experts attributing the rise to high stress levels, sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, and lack of physical activity. One Indian CEO has added a personal voice to the growing concern, sharing his experience of a near-cardiac incident that landed him in hospital — and has since sparked a wider online conversation.

Harsh Macwan, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, took to Instagram earlier this week to recount a health scare that he described as coming “dangerously close to something” serious. His post, which included a photo of himself lying in a hospital bed, has gone viral — but not entirely for the reasons he may have intended.

“It started with a sharp, crushing pressure in my chest. My left arm went numb. I was breathless, sweating, and disoriented. Within minutes, I was rushed to the hospital,” Macwan wrote. “What followed were ECGs and constant monitoring. I’ve always been the type to push through deadlines, fatigue, and stress. But this time, my body said enough.”

Macwan used the post to send a message to other young professionals, particularly startup founders and corporate leaders, urging them to prioritise their health above work demands. “Your heart isn’t a machine. Take that day off. Sleep. Walk. Switch off your phone. Because when your body gives you a final warning, you won’t get to reschedule it,” he said.

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A post shared by Harsh Macwan (@harshm1407)

He also assured followers that he was recovering, and the post was met with an outpouring of support in the comments. One user wrote, “Sending good vibes. Take care,” while another added, “Rightly said… Take care and proper rest.” A third commented simply, “Feel better soon.”

However, not all reactions were sympathetic. The image of Macwan in a hospital bed — appearing alert and composed — was quickly picked up by Reddit users, where it became the subject of satire and criticism. One user reposted the image with the caption: “Take a pic, I’m going to post about this to help other founders – Heart Attack LinkedIn Survivor.”

Another described the post as part of a “haul of fame of craziest posts,” urging others to “save themselves.” Comments poured in, mocking the practice of sharing vulnerable moments online. One read, “No, no, take another picture—I don’t look pathetic enough yet!!” while another sarcastically added, “Cannot wait to have a heart attack to post it on LinkedIn! So exciting!!!”

A more measured critique came from a user who commented, “The weird thing here is a posed hospital selfie. He’s not the only guilty one – but unless it’s a posed ‘I just gave birth and this is our first family photo’ then it’s odd. Hope the dude is on the mend now.”

Despite the divided reactions, Macwan’s post has reignited discussions around workplace stress, burnout, and the pressures faced by India’s young entrepreneurial and professional class.