Heart Disease in Young Adults on the Rise

Heart disease in young adults is on the rise. This trend should be a call to action to pay more attention to our heart health at an earlier age.

You might think heart disease is something only older people have to worry about. It used to be unusual for a person under 40 to experience the chest-grabbing pain of a heart attack. But that’s not the case anymore. More and more young adults are facing heart problems today.

But why is this happening?

One of the biggest challenges is that most young people have no idea they are at risk.

Dr. Jim Lui, a cardiologist, says that many of his younger patients don’t have any of the traditional risk factors. Also, they don’t take their risk factors seriously. (BusinessInsider.com)

What can we do about it?

Knowing the risk factors and symptoms are key.

Risk Factors for heart attack in young adults:

• Sedentary lifestyles – more time sitting in front of a computer, and less physical activity
• Poor eating habits – eating more processed foods and fast foods
• Type 2 diabetes – the number of young people (ages 10-19) with type 2 diabetes has doubled in the last two decades (CDC.com)
• Poor sleep habits – getting less sleep than your body needs has been associated with a 20% increased risk of heart attack.
• Mental health issues – stress, depression, and anxiety are all on the rise in young adults
• Vapes and e-cigarettes – can stress your heart just as much as regular cigarettes (BusinessInsider.com)
• Substance abuse – including marijuana, cocaine and alcohol
• Chronic conditions like HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus
• Covid-19 -It is estimated that 4% of individuals with COVID-19 will go on to experience heart complications. (HealthCentral.com)

Heart Attack Symptoms

Knowing the signs of a heart attack at any age can be a lifesaver. Here’s what to look out for:

• Pain or discomfort in the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and then returns
• Lightheadedness, nausea, or vomiting
• Jaw, neck or back pain
• Discomfort or pain in arm, back, or shoulder
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort

(Heart.org)

How to Prevent Heart Attacks at a Young Age

“At the end of the day, lowering your risk of a heart attack isn’t about one mega change – it’s the little everyday details that add up.” – Dr. Robert Roswell, co-director of cardiac ICU at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City (HealthCentral.com)

The earlier you take action, the better off you’ll be!

Here are some steps you can take:

• Stay Active – 150 minutes of exercise a week can reduce your risk of heart disease.
• Eat nutritious foods – eat a heart-healthy diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Manage Stress and blood pressure – Find healthy ways to relax and manage your day-to-day stress.
• Quit smoking
• Know your family’s heart history – knowledge is key to taking necessary steps to address potential heart issues.
• Regular check-ups – visit your doctor regularly, especially if heart disease runs in your family.

Heart disease statistics in the US

• Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
• In the US, one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease.
• About 695,000 people in America died from heart disease in 2021.
• Heart disease cost the US over $239 billion in 2019. This amount includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.
• Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the US.
• 1 in 5 heart attacks are silent (CDC.gov)

Heart disease statistics in younger Americans

A recent survey found that 47% of people under 45 didn’t think they were at any risk for a heart attack.

Dr. Liu says that over the last 5 to 10 years, he has seen more young people with heart disease coming into his care.

Since 2019, “People between the ages of 25 and 44 have experienced a nearly 30% increase in heart attack deaths. (BusinessInsider.com)

Heart disease statistics in South Carolina

Latest statistics from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), show that in the year 2020:

• Heart disease was the leading cause of death in the state.
• 11,385 South Carolinians died from heart disease.
• 40% of South Carolinians have high blood pressure (leading to heart disease).
• Heart disease accounted for 75,886 hospitalizations in SC.
• Charges for those hospitalizations were over $6.8 billion.

Heart disease in young adults in South Carolina

According to Dr. Brannon Traxler, director of public health at SCDHEC, heart disease is the second biggest killer in South Carolinians between the ages of 45 and 64, and cases are rising. “Unfortunately, we’re seeing rates of those risk factors in young people only getting worse…”

Research in South Carolina

The University of South Carolina Institute for Cardiovascular Disease Research “seeks to directly reduce mortality rates from cardiovascular disease in patient populations across the state, with a special emphasis on chronic stress as a risk factor.”

Heart disease in young adults is a growing concern, but by understanding the causes, recognizing the symptoms, and knowing the statistics, we can take steps to prevent it. Taking care of your heart is one of the most important things you can do, so start making heart-healthy choices today!

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