Why are Heart Attacks in Young People Increasing & How to Prevent it?
30-04-2019 | Posted By: Chhavi | 6030 View(s)
There was a time when heart disease used to affect only older people, but now even young adults are getting diagnosed with heart disease. Living a sedentary lifestyle and taking too much stress has lead to an increasing number of heart attacks in young people. Here we have explained why heart disease is increasing in young adults and ways to prevent it.
Reason Why Heart Attacks in Young People are Increasing
A heart attack is also known as myocardial infarction, and it occurs when the blood supply to a particular section of the heart gets blocked. When the blood supply gets blocked, that portion of the heart muscle dies. Heart attacks are generally the result of coronary artery disease (CAD) in which plaque accumulates on the artery walls.
There are many causes of sudden cardiac death in young adults, and they may vary. Generally, heart abnormality is a cause of death in young people.
Some of the causes of heart attacks in young people include:
1.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
This is also known as HCM, and it is usually an inherited condition in which the walls of the heart muscle thickens. This thickened muscle disrupts the electrical system of the heart and leads to fast or irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), leading to a sudden cardiac attack
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not usually, but it is one of the most common causes of heart-related sudden death in people under 30. Most times, HCM goes undetected. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common cause of sudden death in athletes.
2. Coronary artery Abnormalities
Some people are born with heart arteries that are not connected normally. These arteries can become more compressed during exercise and not provide proper blood flow to the heart leading to heart attack.
3. Long QT Syndrome
This is also an inherited heart rhythm disorder which can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats, leading to fainting. Young people who have long QT syndrome are at an increased risk of sudden death due to a heart attack.
Some of the other causes of heart attacks in young adults include inflammation of the heart muscle, commotion cordis, and structural abnormalities of the heart.
Many times, heart attacks occur with no warning. Some of the indications to watch for are unexplained fainting and family history of sudden cardiac death. Shortness of breath or regular chest pain can also indicate that you are at risk of sudden cardiac death.
What are the Risk Factors for Heart Attacks in Young People?
First of all, every young adult should be screened for heart disease. Gone are the days when heart disease was considered an old man’s problem. Now even young people are getting afflicted with same, so it is best if you go for a health checkup on sa regular basis to keep heart disease as well as other health conditions at bay.
To prevent heart attacks, one should first understand the risk factors for heart disease. Many of the risk factors that affect children and young people can be controlled easily.
Some of the common risk factors for heart attacks in young people are:
1.High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a highly common health condition that can go undetected because it usually causes no symptoms. High blood pressure is not congenital heart disease, but it may have a hereditary link. Make sure that you get your blood pressure checked every six months to prevent health problems.
If you have high blood pressure, then a few lifestyle changes can help you control it:
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Engage in physical activities
• Reduce the consumption of salt
• Do not smoke
2. High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance and is found in all body cells. When you eat foods that come from animals like eggs, and dairy products and high saturated fats, then extra cholesterols enters your body.
Then cholesterol travels to cells through the bloodstream in carriers called lipoproteins. Two most important lipoproteins are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Too much bad cholesterol leads to heart diseases.
Some of the ways to manage cholesterol levels are:
• Exercise every day for at least half an hour.
• Eat healthy foods that are low in fat and cholesterol.
• Add whole grains and fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet.
• Control your weight.
3. Obesity
Being obese can put you at risk of heart disease. Obesity simply means that you have too much body fat. Some of the common causes of obesity is eating more calories and lack of exercise. Other causes of obesity include gender, ageing, lifestyle, illness and genetics.
If you are obese, you must try to lose some weight to prevent heart problems. Also, do get a health checkup done and consult a doctor to make sure the obesity is not due to a medical problem.
Some of the ways to lose weight are:
• Cut sugar and sodium from your diet
• Avoid late-night snacking
• Eat plenty of veggies and fruits
• Stay hydrated
• Stay away from junk food
• Limit your portion
• Increase your physical activity
• Don’t take stress
4. Lack of Physical Activity
Physical inactivity is another major risk factor for heart attacks in young people. In fact, it also increases the risk of developing many other health conditions like high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Regular exercise helps to control weight, strengthen bones, improve heart health and also increase self-esteem.
Make sure you do a blend of cardio and strength training exercise to prevent heart disease.
Best Ways to Prevent Heart Attacks in Young People
1. Eat lots of fruits, veggies, grains and foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
2. Consume nuts and seeds every day.
3. Avoid trans fats.
4. Do yoga exercises and meditation to keep your stress level down.
5. Quit smoking.
6. Keep a tab on your blood pressure.
7. Avoid eating too much salt.
8. Maintain your ideal body weight.
9. Keep a check on your cholesterol
10. Exercise every day.
Follow these simple yet highly effective tips to stay away from heart problems.
Know the Difference between Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack
Cardiac Arrest and Heart Attack are commonly misunderstood as one and the same thing. However, the fact of the matter is that they are different altogether. Go thru this informative Infographic to Know more
Eat healthy, exercise and stay healthy! Don’t forget to book a health checkup at low costs at Medylife because prevention is better than cure.
