Upon arriving at the scene of Raquel Hutt’s 911 call, paramedics saw the terrified, skinny 24-year-old. They guessed that the “crazy shooting pains” in her left arm were due to a panic attack. Hutt didn’t have the appearance of a normal heart attack victim. However, Hutt’s mother, Jenny, insisted on sending her to the hospital. There, doctors confirmed that Hutt, 24, was having a heart attack. Hutt said, “It shocked me. The EMT just looked at me like I was perfectly healthy—because of my age, my body type, and my history.”
Although they still don’t happen often in young adults, heart attacks are on the rise. Continue reading to see why scientists believe that this is occurring and how you can help prevent a heart attack at any age.
The ratio of heart attacks in adults increased by 2/3rds within 4 years
As of 2019, the National Center for Health Statistics reported that just 0.3% of American individuals aged 18 to 44 have experienced a heart attack. It increased to 0.5% the previous year. Heart attacks in this age range are still uncommon, but over the last four years, there has been a rise of more than 66%.
Although heart attacks are significantly more common in the elderly population overall, NCHS data indicates that since 2019, rates have decreased in all other adult age groups. The cause of the rise in heart attacks in young adults, who are usually less prone to them, is unknown. However, several related factors are likely at work.
Heart attack rates in the 18–44 age group, 2019–2023
1. Continuously increasing obesity ratio
Though not the only group hit by the obesity epidemic, experts believe it may harm younger adults more than previous generations. Their cardiovascular health is at greater risk. Columbia University cardiologist Dr. Andrew Moran says, “Obesity has risen in every age group. But it is increasing much faster in young adults than in older adults.”
Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, a Cedars-Sinai cardiology professor, said, “Nutrition habits are pretty well-formed in childhood.” This may explain part of the reason for this. She claims she “still eats pretty much how I was raised” in the 1950s and 1960s. She says, “This was before snacking, fast, and highly processed foods.” After World War II, fast food became more accessible. By 2010, more meals were eaten out than at home. The younger patients, those who are currently in their 40s and under, grew up during the peak of McDonald’s, Doritos, snack bars, and Big Gulps.
Younger folks who grew up consuming a diet high in these high-calorie, low-nutrient foods may continue to do so out of ingrained behaviors, according to Bairey Merz.
Bairey Merz calls the rise in obesity and diabetes the “diabetes epidemic.” Poor diets and sedentary lives have worsened it. Two of the main risk factors for high blood pressure are obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, because they might harm blood vessels and strain the heart, all three are risk factors for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease.
2. COVID may have driven a further increase in untimely heart attacks
COVID-19 can damage the lungs, heart, and circulatory system. It can cause myocarditis, a serious heart inflammation. In young people, severe infections are very uncommon. However, Moran notes that when they do occur, they typically affect young people who have heart attack risk factors, such as obesity. “He clarifies that acute cardiovascular events associated with COVID-19 have been caused by the virus’s impact on the heart muscle.”
According to one study, there were 30% more heart attack deaths during the first two years of the COVID pandemic than would be predicted for persons between the ages of 25 and 44. According to a different study, four out of every 100 Americans get a heart-related symptom a year after recovering from COVID-19. Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Ashish Sarraju tells Yahoo, “We must look at the traditional risk factors, like obesity and hypertension. They are rising among young folks.” However, it’s difficult to overlook the concurrent COVID-19 pandemic. The virus affects the heart in a variety of ways that are currently being investigated; therefore, we must consider unconventional causes.
3. Most younger men are unaware of the healthcare system
Heart attacks are more common in men than in women of all ages. However, Moran notes that young men who exhibit warning signs—many of whom are now fat, diabetic, or both—may more readily fall between the gaps. It is advised that young women see a gynecologist annually, which explains why some of them wind up in the medical system. “However, young adult men are essentially lost to the healthcare system; until they end up in the hospital, they have no idea if they have diabetes or high blood pressure.”
4. Particular risk factors for younger women include stress, diabetes, smoking, and menstruation
Some studies indicate that young women have experienced the highest increase in heart attack rates. One study found that the percentage of women between the ages of 35 and 54 who were hospitalized for heart attacks increased from 21% to 31% between 1995 and 2014. Bairey Merz is among those trying to find out why the percentage is rising among young women. She has made several suggestions. She points out that, among other things, “the ‘diabesity’ epidemic is contributing to a rising rate of heart disease.” “We don’t know why, but diabetes is a stronger risk factor [for cardiovascular problems] in women than in men.”
The risks of smoking and vaping, which both raise the possibility of a heart attack, are another issue. “There is a discernible group of women with college education who are more prone to begin smoking during their time away from home, citing weight control as the reason,” explains Bairey Merz. She says e-cigarettes are a major cause of this issue. They are probably as harmful to heart health as regular cigarettes.
Finally, women may be more vulnerable to heart attacks. This is due to the interaction between stress, hormones, and menstruation. According to Bairey Merz, this field of study is just getting started. However, research is starting to show that younger women are under more stress, anxiety, and strain and that social media is mostly to blame for this. Excessive stress can interfere with menstrual cycles, especially if it causes missed periods. According to Bairey Merz, “When you’re not ovulating each month, your estrogen levels are very low and this is a contributing factor to heart disease” and heart attacks.
What steps you may take to lower your risks
The good news is that you may take many steps right now to lower your chance of having a heart attack.
- Eat more healthfully: Moran suggests consuming fresh food, such as fruits and vegetables, and reducing your intake of packaged foods. “You’re going to have a much lower-sodium diet if you follow that basic advice,” which is essential for preventing heart disease.
- Be more active: Take up “something sustainable for you.” For example, walk 7,000 steps a day or do 2.5 hours of moderate exercise a week.
- Give up smoking: Bairey Merz advises against smoking, saying that vaping, smoking cannabis, and using e-cigarettes are all the same. No smoke from cannabis or tobacco is harmless.
- Obtain restful sleep: Many young adults, according to Sarraju, might not realize how crucial “sleep quantity and quality” are for heart health. Adults should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night, according to the AHA.
- Reduce your alcohol intake: It was long believed that drinking red wine may protect the heart. However, new studies have refuted this and other myths regarding alcohol use. It’s now known that consuming alcohol in any form increases the risk of heart disease.
- Manage weight: Find out from your doctor what a healthy weight is for you and use “nutrition and daily activity” to maintain it, advises Bairey Merz.
- Check your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. Find out how much blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar you have. According to Moran, “There’s a short list of tests that everyone should have done.” He advises requesting these tests, discussing your family history with your healthcare professional, and learning what to do if your levels are too high.
This news was published on the Yahoo Platform.
