Most people believe that heart attacks are only a concern for the elderly, the result of a lifetime of accumulating health problems. And they’re partly correct. It is caused by a variety of medical conditions, but age is no longer a factor. One in every five patients suffering from a heart attack is now under the age of 40.
What’s more shocking is that heart attacks have become more common in 20- and 30-year-olds, increasing by 2% between 2000 and 2016.
And just because you’re younger doesn’t mean your chances of surviving a heart attack are better. If you have a heart attack when you are in your twenties or thirties, you face the same risks as older patients. You have the same chance of dying from a second major heart event or a stroke after your first heart attack, regardless of your age.
Major risk factors for heart attacks in Young people
The rise in heart attacks among young people can be attributed largely to lifestyle factors. Overbooked schedules, competitive pressure, constant stress and anxiety, overeating, and self-medicating with alcohol and drugs all have a negative impact on the heart.
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you are constantly trying to keep your blood sugar levels under control. If they become too high, they can damage your blood vessels, leading to the buildup of fat in your arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Diabetes also increases your risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. As a result, adults with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
Blood pressure that is too high
It could be the stress of a demanding job, the constant communication demands of social media, the hectic schedules, or just general angst over politics and world events, but these concerns raise your blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it is rising faster in young adults than in older adults. High blood pressure causes heart muscle thickening, damages blood vessels, and increases your risk of having a heart attack.
Obesity
When it comes to heart disease, being overweight puts you behind the eight ball. Your weight is important for your heart health because carrying extra weight places a high demand on your heart.
Obesity increases your risk of having a heart attack even if you are otherwise healthy.
However, if you are overweight or obese, you are more likely to have other health issues that affect your heart health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Vaping and smoking
While smoking cigarettes is not as common as it once was, it is still one of the leading causes of heart attacks in young adults. The number of cigarettes you smoke directly proportionally increases your risk of having a heart attack. When compared to nonsmokers, smoking one pack of cigarettes per day more than doubles your risk of having a heart attack.
Vaping has surpassed cigarette smoking in popularity among young adults and even teenagers, but you’d be mistaken if you think that excuses you from responsibility. E-cigarettes contain nicotine and other toxic.
Compounds that raise your blood pressure and accelerate your heart rate, making you more likely to have a heart attack than those who do not vape.
If you have any of the above lifestyle factors and facing issues in breathing, walking, less energy, fatigue it’s time to consult the best heart specialist Dr. Vivek Kumar in Apollo Hospital Sarita Vihar Delhi.