How Common Are Heart Attacks in Young People?
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A heart attack can happen to anyone, regardless of age. And while they’re more common among older adults, heart attacks in young people from the ages of 18 to 44 are on the rise.
What’s behind this worrisome trend? What are the health and lifestyle risk factors of having a heart attack at a young age? And importantly, how can young adults improve their heart health to help prevent a heart attack? We’ll explore the answers to these questions here.
Taking proactive steps to safeguard your heart health is essential, no matter your age. Routine heart screenings can detect heart-related issues early and help prevent serious conditions. Learn more about CMC Cardiac Care diagnostic screenings and other services to help you achieve optimal heart health.
Are Heart Attacks in Young People on the Rise?
When we think of who has heart attacks, we typically think of this health condition as something that affects older adults. And while heart attacks may be less common among younger people, the following statistics show a troubling trend:
- Heart attacks in young people 18 to 44 have increased more than 66% since 2019.
- Heart attacks in young adults under age 40 have been increasing for the past decade, with 1 in 5 heart attack patients in this age group.
- While the heart attack rate has declined among older adults, it has increased among women aged 35-54.
- Between the years 2000 and 2016, the heart attack rate increased by 2% every year for those in their 20s or early 30s.
This trend is associated with increasing rates of traditional risk factors including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, conditions that are becoming more common in younger adults. Lifestyle factors like poor diet, lack of exercise, elevated stress, and smoking and vaping also contribute to an increased risk of heart attacks in young people.
What Lifestyle Factors Are Causing Heart Attacks in Young People?
First, let’s distinguish between health and lifestyle risk factors. Health risk factors, which we’ll address in the next section, include established health conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and genetic factors that can’t be changed.
Lifestyle risk factors are practices and behaviors you can control. Lifestyle risk factors that may contribute to rising rates of heart attacks in younger adults include:
- Physical inactivity
- Poor sleep habits
- Excessive alcohol use
- Smoking cigarettes, vaping or smoking cannabis
- Eating an unhealthy diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and sugar
- Substance abuse of cocaine, methamphetamines, marijuana and other drugs
High levels of anxiety can also impact your heart health. The good news is, there are several healthy ways to relieve stress that are within your control.
What Are the Risk Factors of Having a Heart Attack at a Young Age?
There are several health risk factors that may contribute to having a heart attack at a young age.
These risk factors include the following health conditions:
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Family history of heart disease
- Congenital heart disease (CHD), a heart condition present at birth
There are also certain genetic conditions that may increase the risk of heart attacks in young adults, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle, or familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which causes very high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol from a young age.
How Can a Young Adult Improve Their Heart Health?
While the health risk factors mentioned in the previous section are beyond your control, there are several lifestyle practices young adults – and people of all ages – can adopt to help improve their heart health.
These lifestyle choices include:
- Exercising regularly
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Managing stress and anxiety
- Avoiding long periods of sitting
- Eating a balanced, heart-healthy diet
- Getting the proper amount of quality sleep
- Learning your family history of heart conditions
- Being aware of early heart attack symptoms, including lesser-known ones, and getting regular health screenings
Concerned About Your Heart Health Risk Factors? Conway Medical Center Offers Expert Cardiac Care to Help Improve Your Heart Health
Though it’s more common in older adults, heart attacks can happen to anyone. This is why it’s essential to be proactive about your heart health, regardless of age.
If you’re a young adult with any of the risk factors mentioned above, we encourage you to speak to your primary care physician about your concerns. If appropriate, they can provide a referral to one of our cardiologists for a more in-depth evaluation.
Our leading experts at CMC Cardiac Care are here to support you. Learn more here about expert cardiac care in Conway, or contact us for more information.
Key Takeaways
- Heart attacks among young adults aged 18 to 44 have risen significantly, with some data suggesting an increase of over 66% since 2019.
- The rise in heart attacks among young people is linked to increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
- Lifestyle choices such as poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, vaping, substance use, poor sleep habits and elevated levels of stress are also contributors to early heart attacks.
- Young adults can improve heart health by exercising, eating a balanced diet, reducing alcohol, managing stress, and getting sufficient sleep.
- Being aware of family history, recognizing early symptoms, and getting regular health screenings are important steps for prevention.
- Proactively addressing both lifestyle and health risk factors is essential for reducing the risk of heart attacks at any age.
- Conway Medical Center offers expert cardiac care, including diagnostic screenings and other services to help you achieve optimal heart health.
The content within this article and others on this website is only for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. For any questions or concerns, please consult with your healthcare provider.
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Sources:
Cardio Metabolic Institute, “What’s Behind the Rise in Heart Attacks Among Young People?,”
https://cminj.com/whats-behind-the-rise-in-heart-attacks-among-young-people/
Cedars Sinai, “Yahoo! Life: Heart Attacks in Young People Are Rare—But Rates Are Rising,”
Cleveland Clinic, “What Causes Heart Attacks in Young People?”
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-teens-have-heart-attacks
Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Heart Attacks Striking Younger Women,”
