Did you know you can get a heart attack even in your 20s?
Heart disease is not just a concern for the elderly, and 1 in 5 heart attack patients are aged younger than 40.
Dr Nabil bin Haji Idris, Resident Consultant Cardiologist at Aurelius Hospital Nilai, said, “Heart disease does not discriminate based on age – it can affect anyone and everyone regardless of how young or old you are.”
“Hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol are major contributing factors to heart disease, and we’re seeing an increasing number of young adults experiencing this,” he added.
You may ask, “But how do I know if my lifestyle is healthy?”
Well, if you find yourself telling yourself the following messages, maybe it is time to rethink your lifestyle!
1. “I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want, while I’m young.”
We all love a good late-night mamak session, but perhaps you should think twice before ordering that Maggi Goreng.
An unhealthy diet high in fat and sugar can lead to high levels of cholesterol, which will build up plaque in your arteries and increase your risk of a heart attack.
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 because it causes atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in your artery) and raises blood pressure.
Alcohol consumed in excess over several years can 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 stressed, your amygdala (an 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, leading to heart attacks, angina and stroke.
Stress is unavoidable in daily life, but you must intentionally set aside time to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate to combat the effects of stress.
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 if they have these ailments unless they go for regular health check-ups.
There’s no harm in going for a medical check-up every now and then, which helps you identify early signs of potentially harmful medical issues.
Some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, such as your age or family history, but you can take steps to lower your risk by changing the factors you can influence.
Dr Nabil adds, “Small changes in your lifestyle, such as exercising and choosing healthy food options, can make a huge difference in your heart health.”
“Prevention is better than cure, so it is best to get a heart screening and identify your risk factors early to take the necessary steps to protect and strengthen your heart.”
Also read: 19-Year-Old Teen Dies From Drinking Cold Water After Playing Basketball
