Heart crises are often synonymous with older adults, and for a good reason: in general, people 45 years and over are more likely to have a heart attack than young adults, according to Mayo Clinic.
But heart attacks also occur among young people. And, alarming, the number of young adults affected has climbed in recent years – especially since the start of the Pandemic COVID -19.
Here is how a cardiologist breaks down the causes of a heart attack at a young age, as well as the possible link between COVID-19 and heart disease.
Why mortal heart attacks are increasing in young adults
A wide variety of things can lead to a heart attack, but there are several exceptional risk factors that make someone more likely to have one.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the typical risk factors of heart attack include: chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes; lifestyle factors as being overweight or smoking; And non -modifiable factors such as aging, sex (men are more at risk) and have family history of heart attack.
They have not changed, but the risk of heart attack has changed a little with the prevalence of COVID-19, explains Brianna Costello, MD, cardiologist in Texas Heart Institute Center for Cardiovascular Care.
Covid’s link with heart disease and heart attack
During the first two years of the pandemic, there were 90,000 more deaths than expected for this period of heart problems, according to a study of February 2023 Cardiovascular research of nature.
The majority of them were in the elderly, according to a September 202222 Journal of Medical Virology study, as you would expect. But this study also revealed that death -related deaths increased significantly in young adults, the highest increase in cardiac crisis occurring in people aged 25 to 44.
On the one hand, the infection covids – at any age – is linked to an increased risk of heart problems and heart attack.
Indeed, a February 2022 Nature Medicine The study indicates that the risk of developing heart disease after being infected with COVID-19 is strong, regardless of the minor of symptoms and even if a person has no other risk factor for heart disease.
And a major study of November 2022 in Hatching noted that unvaccinated people who had had a coconut was at a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease during the year following infection, especially by being almost twice as likely to have a heart attack.
The reasons behind this are not yet fully understood, but we know that a COVVI-19 infection can cause inflammation in the heart that leads to arrhythmias and cardiac damage, according to Penn Medicine. These increase your risk of heart attack and heart failure.
And the researchers behind the Journal of Medical Virology The study thinks that COVVI-19 can trigger or speed up pre-existing heart disease, even in young adults.
Inflammation is probably a culprit, but there also seems to be a link between COVVI-19 infections and high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart attacks.
An article from August 2023 in the Journal of Hypertension noted that more than 20% of people hospitalized with COVID and more than 10% of people with a softer case continued to develop high blood pressure in the months that followed the infection.
In addition: many people have failed with their doctors or primary care cardiologists since the start of the pandemic, said Dr Costello.
“Many of these patients already had a diagnosis of heart disease,” she notes, and the missing appointments may have led them to late in the management of their state and their risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
All this leads us to our next point: even before COVVI-19, the risk of heart disease in young adults has climbed for at least the last decade.
Why more young adults are at risk of heart disease
COVID-19 is not the only thing to blame for the risk of young adults for heart disease and the heart attack. This risk has in fact increased since at least 2009 due to a constant increase in risk factors such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure in this age group, according to a March 2023 study Jama.
Diabetes is a high risk factor to have an early heart attack, according to Cardio Metabolic Institute (CMI). High blood sugar damages the blood vessels, increasing the chances of completing the fats of your arteries.
People living with diabetes are also more likely to have other chronic health problems that add more risk of heart attack, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is another large risk factor for heart disease and heart attack, and it increases more quickly in young adults than in the elderly, according to CMI.
Finally, overweight considerably increases the risk of having a heart attack, said Dr Costello. An additional weight imposes more demand on your heart, which makes it more difficult to operation correctly. Overweight can make anyone more likely to have a heart attack, even if it is otherwise in good health.
How young people can reduce their risk of heart attack
Heart attacks are no longer medical events that should only be taken into account when you get older. Yes, it is very possible to have a heart attack at a young age, especially with the threat of an infection like COVID-19 that affects heart health, says Dr Costello.
On the right side, many of the largest risk factors – such as hypertension, high cholesterol, a sedentary lifestyle and smoking – can be managed with certain lifestyle changes.
1. Be active
Dr Costello recommends 150 minutes or more exercise each week to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is also the official recommendation of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, according to their directives of physical activity for Americans.
“Activity is crucial to maintain heart health and can help control blood pressure and blood sugar,” she said.
Some of the best cardiac health exercises include:
- Running
- Dancing
- Walk
- Tennis
- Bike
2. Stop smoking (vaping too!)
Nicotine in cigarettes and electronic cigarettes is a toxic substance that increases the risk of heart attack, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Smoking also increases your blood pressure, increases adrenaline and increases your heart rate, which all make a heart attack more likely.
The Mayo clinic suggests these strategies to quit smoking:
- Nicotine replacement therapy
- Avoid triggers that make you want to smoke
- Chewing
- Delay to give in to temptation
- Go take a walk or jog when the desires strike
- Try relaxation techniques
3. Be vaccinated
A growing set of research – including a research letter in July 2022 Jama and March 2023 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology – shows that people who have obtained the cocovated vaccine are less likely to have a heart attack after being infected with the cochem.
Researchers think it could be due to the fact that the vaccine reduces the inflammatory effects of COVID and also reduces your risk of developing severe core.
It is true that there is a small risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the cardiac muscle) after obtaining the ceremonial vaccines of the mRNA (those of Pfizer and Moderna), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, the risk of myocarditis after being infected With Covid is much higher – up to 28 times higher for men aged 30 and over, according to the CDC.
For this reason, the CDC says that the best way to protect you from COVID-19 and the associated heart complications is to be vaccinated.
4. Know your family history
The risk of hereditary heart attack cannot be changed, but the more you know, the more you can be equipped, says Dr Costello.
The sharing of family medical history with your doctor allows them to treat you appropriately and receive complete care (especially with regard to prevention).
Find out about the health history of family members so that you are more ready to manage yours.
5. eat healthy foods for the heart
Food has the potential to help or injure us according to the food choices we make. Maintain a healthy and healthy diet that includes nutrient -rich foods, according to Mayo Clinic. These include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Beans or other legumes
- Meats and fish
- Low or fatty dairy food
- Whole grains
- Healthy fats, like avocado and olive oil
The integration of more of these foods in your daily life as opposed to ultra-transformed and less nutritious foods will also help you maintain healthy weight and help to prevent chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, according to the mayonnaise clinic.
6. Manage your stress
Stress can be inevitable, but the more you manage your stress levels, the more happy your heart will be.
Although some stress levels are normal, there is a link between chronic stress and heart problems, according to AHA.
Facing stress can also become more difficult as you get older, so take the time now to find stress elimination strategies that work for you.
Simple and easily accessible constraint relief methods include:
- Write your feelings
- Breathe
- Play optimistic music
- Spend time with pets
The bottom line
Heart health is more important than ever in the wake of the COVVI-19 pandemic, and people of all ages should take measures to reduce their risk of heart disease and heart attack, said Dr Costello.
Although certain risk factors are out of our control, anyone can work to reduce their risk by prioritizing a healthy lifestyle which aims to keep things like weight, blood sugar and blood pressure in failure.
If you have family history of heart attack, talk to your doctor to offer a personalized prevention plan.
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