Why are young people's hearts deteriorating? Doctors explain which habits are increasing the risk of heart attack

Heart Diseases cases are rapidly increasing among young people these days. Obesity, high blood pressure, and stress are the main causes. Poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking also increase the risk of heart attack in young people. Maintaining a healthy heart can be achieved by adopting healthy habits and managing stress.

Whenever heart disease is discussed, the image of patients in their 50s or 60s always comes to mind. However, the trend of this disease is changing. In fact, in recent years, cases of heart disease and heart attacks have been increasing rapidly among people under the age of 40. Therefore, to prevent this, not only early detection is essential, but also understanding its causes is crucial.

World Heart Day is celebrated every year on September 29th to raise awareness about heart-related diseases. To understand the reasons behind the increasing incidence of heart disease among young people, we spoke with Dr. Rajiv Agarwal, Unit Head and Principal Director of Cardiac Sciences at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket. Let's explore why heart attack cases are increasing among people under 40.

Why is heart disease increasing among youth?

• The first reason: The rising incidence of heart disease among young people is primarily due to the rapid increase in obesity, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance. Due to changing lifestyles, these problems, often associated with old age, are already occurring in people, especially in urban areas.
• The second reason: Stress has become almost epidemic in urban environments. Urban work life, long working hours, and hectic schedules are contributing to stress. Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure , dyslipidemia, and endothelial (blood vessel lining) damage.
• Third reason: Furthermore, people's lifestyles are rapidly deteriorating, leading to a shift in eating habits. A diet high in refined carbohydrates, sugary and overly processed foods, lack of physical activity, and the use of smoking, vaping, and alcohol among young people are also factors.
• Fourth, the post-COVID era is one that cannot be ignored. Many patients who recover from the virus have residual inflammation, microvascular damage, or coagulation disorders, which can exacerbate heart problems.

Neglect is also a big reason

Negligence also contributes significantly to the spread of this disease. Young people often ignore minor symptoms like fatigue, mild shortness of breath, or chest discomfort, attributing them to stress or exhaustion. However, they often ignore the symptoms until they become serious, which often leads to the situation getting out of hand.

What can we do?

To maintain good heart health, regular checkups should begin before the age of 40. This is especially true in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, where stress has become a part of daily life. Periodic assessment of blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose, and even risk scores can help protect young people from heart disease. Furthermore, you can take care of your heart by keeping a few things in mind:

• Adopt healthy habits: Get at least 30 minutes of light to moderate physical activity daily. Limit your intake of refined sugars and processed foods, avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol, and manage stress.
• Change the working culture: Corporate welfare programs, healthy workplace policies like mandatory leave, ban on sending emails during holidays, etc. can improve mental health and reduce the burden of stress.

PC: Carda Health