Evidence continues to emerge to show that the rate of heart attacks among young adults has increased significantly compared to previous generations.
In fact, heart attack rates have decreased in the elderly, but have increased in younger people (20 to 50 years).
According to medical experts, most people think that heart attack is a disease of old people, but even young people are not immune from cardiac arrest or heart attack.
Research reports have shown that the rate of heart attack among young people has increased and the alarming thing is that most of the patients are not even aware of its symptoms.
Pain or pressure in the chest, pain that spreads to the jaw, neck, back, or hands, trouble breathing, feeling weak, and fainting are all common symptoms.
A study in the United States found that one in five heart attack patients is under the age of 40, and that rate has increased by 2 percent each year over the past decade.
People under the age of 40 were found to have the same risk of having a heart attack as those over the age of 60, according to the study.
Who is at greater risk?
Research indicates that the prevalence of this issue among young people in Pakistan and India has also increased.
Generally, men experience heart attacks more than women, but recent research reports indicate that young women have a higher rate than young men.
What are the causes of heart attack?
According to research reports, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity are the major factors that increase the risk of heart attack.
However, these risks are amplified by habits such as prolonged sitting and the consumption of unhealthy foods (fast or junk food). The cardiovascular system is also negatively impacted by Covid-19.
Among those aged 25 to 44, one study found that the death rate from heart attacks rose by 14 percent during the first year of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Heart attacks are more likely to occur in younger people if they smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol.
How to reduce risk?
The American Heart Association has given 8 tips to improve heart health.
Protecting oneself from heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases is possible through eating well, exercising frequently, not smoking, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a healthy body weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol level, and blood pressure.
Note: Please consult your physician before acting on any information presented in this article, which draws heavily from medical literature articles.