Doctors explained why heart diseases are "getting younger"

The period between 18 and 25 years is a time of first serious decisions: education, work, new relationships, adult life. But it is during these years, doctors warned, that many begin to form habits that undermine heart health.

This is reported by The Conversation portal.

According to electronic medical records, over the past 15 years, the incidence of cardiovascular disease among Americans under 40 has more than doubled, and among smokers - tripled. At the same time, most young people still consider heart attacks and hypertension to be diseases of the "older generation."

"I increasingly see patients 20-25 years old with high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and obesity," said a practicing cardiologist and researcher from the USA. "These risks form very early, sometimes by the end of high school."

The main cause is atherosclerosis: deposits of fat and cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. According to research, heart health begins to deteriorate by the age of 17. From this age, indicators of blood pressure, sleep, nutrition, and physical activity gradually shift in an unfavorable direction.

Nicotine is cited as one of the most dangerous factors. Its use among 18-23-year-olds increased from 21% in 2002 to 43% in 2018 - thanks to vapes and nicotine pouches. Nicotine destroys blood vessels, accelerates the formation of plaques, and increases the risk of heart attack.

Equally alarming are statistics on excess weight: every fifth person under 25 already has a body mass index above 30. According to forecasts, by the age of 35, almost 60% of young people will suffer from obesity. Meanwhile, less than half of young adults realize that high blood pressure, cholesterol, and sedentary lifestyle are directly related to the risk of heart disease.

Regular visits to the doctor, measuring blood pressure and sugar, discussions about family history of diseases - all this helps to identify hidden risks in time. Experts advise not to wait until the doctor raises the topic of heart health, but to ask about it directly.

The American Heart Association identifies eight key factors affecting heart health. Four of them are behavioral:

regular physical activity (about 20 minutes a day), avoiding nicotine, adequate sleep (7-9 hours), and a balanced diet with sufficient fish, berries, and vegetables.

The other four are medical indicators: blood pressure, sugar level, cholesterol, and body mass index. In young people, three of these four indicators have significantly worsened in recent years.

Cardiologists emphasized: now is the time to pay attention to the heart. Checking blood pressure and sugar, giving up vaping, walking instead of taking a taxi, and home-cooked food instead of fast food may seem like small things, but these are the decisions that build health for decades to come.