Women and heart diseas
August 18, 2025
Dr Shruthi KulkarniHEART ATTACKS IN YOUNG
Heart attacks in young people, though less common than in older adults, are becoming increasingly frequent and are linked to a range of risk factors and underlying conditions.
Risk Factors in Young Adults
Several lifestyle choices and medical conditions significantly raise the risk of heart attack among young adults:
SMOKING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE:
Cigarette smoking, vaping, and the use of drugs like cocaine dramatically increase the likelihood of a heart attack by constricting blood vessels and raising blood pressure.
DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
Young adults with diabetes or hypertension are at much greater risk, as these conditions damage blood vessels and promote the buildup of fatty plaques in heart arteries.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL, POOR DIET, AND OBESITY:
Unhealthy eating habits and being overweight contribute to elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, accelerating atherosclerosis—the narrowing and hardening of arteries.
FAMILY HISTORY:
A genetic predisposition to heart disease, especially if parents or grandparents had heart attacks at a young age, plays a significant role.
LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CHRONIC STRESS:
Sedentary lifestyles and unmanaged stress impact heart health and can add to other risk factors.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Some young people suffer heart attacks due to rare or inherited disorders:
HYPERTROPHIC CARDIOMYOPATHY:
This genetic condition thickens the heart muscle and can disrupt normal electrical activity, leading to sudden cardiac death especially during exertion.
ARRHYTHMIAS AND CONGENITAL DEFECTS:
Congenital rhythm disturbances (like long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome) or structural heart defects may cause unexpectedly fatal events.
CORONARY ARTERY ABNORMALITIES:
Born defects in the coronary arteries can block blood flow to the heart muscle, sometimes resulting in cardiac arrest without prior warning.
Prevention and awareness
Heart attacks in the young are often preventable with lifestyle modifications:
- Regular exercise, healthy diet, cholesterol and blood pressure control, avoiding smoking and drug abuse, and routine medical checkups can significantly reduce risk.
- Young individuals with a family history of heart problems or symptoms such as chest pain, fainting, or shortness of breath should seek early medical evaluation.
Early detection and management of risk factors are crucial because heart attacks at a young age can lead to severe complications and lifelong health impacts
Jilly Smith 29 Oct 2022
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Jilly Smith 29 Oct 2022
Nulla sed viveraut lorem tetur diam nunc bibendum imperdiets ipsum dolor tur adipisicing elit, sed do .