It’s a common stereotype that heart attacks are only a concern for older people. Meanwhile, evidence shows otherwise.
Younger people are having more cardiovascular issues than in the past, according to many health care organizations, including Harvard Medical School and Cedars-Sinai.
The uptick is tied to increasing incidence of heart attack risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Experts are seeing the trend play out in northeast and central Wisconsin.
“We’re finding people developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol at a younger age. This puts them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease,” says Dr. Rich Santa Cruz, a Cardiologist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care. “Regardless of age, it’s important to think about heart health and what you can do to decrease your cardiovascular disease risk.”
Exploring the Findings
A 2019 American College Cardiology (ACC) study showed a steady annual increase in the number of heart attacks among people under age 40. The report found that young heart attack patients have the same rate of adverse outcomes from heart attacks as older heart attack sufferers. These include increased likelihood of dying from another heart attack or a stroke.
Heart attack risk factors for people of all ages include diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart attacks. The younger people in the ACC study also were likelier to report using substances, including marijuana and cocaine.
Experts say factors such as sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, high stress levels, and increasing rates of obesity are contributing to other health problems. These put people at increased risk for a heart attack.
In more recent years, COVID-19 also has shown to damage the cardiovascular system. The Cedars-Sinai study found that in the first two years of the pandemic, COVID-19 contributed to an increase in the number of heart attacks among people between the ages of 25 and 44. The long-term implications are still coming into focus.
Knowing the Signs
In addition to understanding risk factors, Dr. Santa Cruz says awareness is key when it comes to cardiovascular health.
“Don’t assume you’re too young to have a heart attack,” he says. “People of all ages should know the signs and symptoms and seek help immediately if they experience them.”
According to the CDC, the typical signs of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain or discomfort, such as pressure, squeezing, or fullness
- Cold sweat
- Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, arms, lower abdomen, or back
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath, either at the same time as or before chest discomfort
- Women, in particular, may experience fainting, light-headedness, indigestion, and extreme fatigue
Helping Your Heart
The impact our choices is clear. Everyone can benefit from following heart-healthy habits.
“Think of these steps as a gift to your heart,” Dr. Santa Cruz says.
Adopt these habits:
- Eat a healthy diet. Balance your diet with healthy grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Minimize your intake of added sugars, sodium, and processed foods.
- Get active. Aim for a total of 150 minutes of exercise each week, which is just over 21 minutes each day.
- Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight, seek the help of your health care team.
- Quit smoking. Smoking damages the lining of blood vessels, causing them to narrow and harden. This reduces blood flow to the heart.
- Keep cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels at healthy levels. Keeping up with annual checkups will help you and your doctor track these. If your levels are high, your health care team can offer recommendations to get them back to a normal range. Your doctor may recommend medication if lifestyle changes don’t work.
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Alcohol can raise blood pressure, which puts more stress on your heart.
- Manage stress. Chronic stress can increase inflammation in your body and lead to plaque buildup in the arteries. This in turn can lead to heart disease. People dealing with stress also may have other unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking alcohol.
- Get enough sleep. Inadequate sleep puts more stress on your nervous system, which increases blood pressure and heart rate.
“The choices we make throughout life accumulate,” Dr. Santa Cruz says. “You’re never too young to begin making smarter choices for your heart and overall health.”
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