Heart attacks are on the rise among young adults, and it’s becoming alarmingly apparent that heart disease is not just a concern for the elderly. In fact, studies show that having a heart attack in your 20s or early 30s is increasingly more common, with one of every five heart-attack patients younger than 40 years of age.
Additionally, a study on coronary artery disease among Malaysian youths found that almost 70% of participants aged 15-24 have 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.
“Heart disease does not discriminate based on age – it can affect anyone and everyone, regardless of how young or old you are,” said Dr Nabil Haji Idris, resident consultant cardiologist at Aurelius Hospital Nilai.
“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 20s, it’s so important to have regular health check-ups and maintain a healthy lifestyle to mitigate these risk factors.”
Here are some common misconceptions about heart-disease risk factors among young adults:
1. ‘I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want, while I’m young’
Everyone loves a good late-night mamak session, but perhaps you should think twice before ordering that Maggi goreng or nasi kandar. A diet high in fat and cholesterol will build up plaque in your arteries and increase your risk of a heart attack.
Also, try swapping your usual teh tarik for a teh C kosong instead.
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 as it causes atherosclerosis – the buildup of fats, cholesterol and other substances in and on the artery walls – and raises blood pressure.
Alcohol consumed in excess over several years can also produce alcoholic cardiomyopathy, where alcohol acts as a toxin to weaken the heart muscle directly. Time to kick those bad habits!
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 – the 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 strokes.
Stress is unavoidable in daily life, but you must intentionally set aside time to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate to combat its effects.
4. ‘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 of these ailments unless they go for regular check-ups.
Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history, but you can certainly take steps to lower your risk.
“Small changes in your lifestyle, such as exercising and choosing healthy food options, can make a huge difference in your heart health,” Nabil said.
“Prevention is better than cure, so it is 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.”