HEART attacks are on the rise among young adults, and it's becoming alarmingly apparent that heart disease is not only a concern for the elderly. Almost 1 in 5 heart attacks occur in patients who are younger than 40 years of age.
Additionally, a study on Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) among Malaysian youths found that almost 70 per cent of participants aged 15–24 had at least one cardiovascular risk factor.
The common misconception that "heart attacks only happen when you're old no longer applies, and young adults need to take immediate action.
Aurelius Hospital Nilai resident consultant cardiologist, Dr Nabil Idris says heart disease does not discriminate based on age. It can affect anyone and everyone regardless of how young or old they are.
"Hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol are major contributing factors to heart disease, and we're seeing an increasing number of young adults experiencing this."
Even in your twenties, it is important to have regular health check-ups and maintain a healthy lifestyle to mitigate these risk factors, explains Dr Nabil.
Some common misconceptions about heart disease and young adults include:
1. "I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want, while I'm young"
An unhealthy diet high in fat will build up plaque in your arteries and increase your risk of a heart attack. Consider switching to healthier foods and beverages.
2. "I'm still young, I can smoke and drink as much as I like"
Smoking is a strong risk factor for congestive heart failure because it causes atherosclerosis and raises blood pressure. Alcohol consumed in excess over several years can produce alcoholic cardiomyopathy, where alcohol acts as a toxin to weaken the heart muscle directly.
3. "Young people can handle stress well, so it's no big deal"
Whether physical or emotional, constant stress increases the likelihood of developing heart and circulatory disease. Studies have found that when you are stressed, your amygdala (an area of the brain that deals with stress) signals to the bone marrow to produce extra white blood cells.
This causes the arteries to become inflamed, which can lead to heart attacks, angina and stroke. Stress is unavoidable in daily life, but you must intentionally set aside time to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate to combat the effects of stress.
4. "Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol only happen to older people"
These are traditional risk factors for heart disease, but young adults might not even be aware if they have these ailments unless they go for regular health check-ups. There's no harm in going for a medical check-up now and then, which helps you identify signs of early issues.
Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history, but you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can control.
"Small changes in your lifestyle, such as exercising and choosing healthy food options, can make a huge difference to heart health.
Prevention is better than cure, so it's best to get a heart screening and identify your risk factors early in order to take the necessary steps to protect and strengthen your heart," says Dr Nabil.
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