Thanks to the advancements in modern medicine, life expectancy rates have steadily increased for both men and women over the past several decades. An average healthy woman can now expect to live to 81 while men usually live to near 76. Despite advances in treatment, coronary heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans for both men and women. There are more than 1.5 million heart attacks per year and at least half of patients will die before reaching the hospital.
Particularly shocking is the increased rate of heart attacks among young people. According to the American Heart Association, people age 50 and younger have almost twice the risk of premature death after a heart attack—mainly due to high blood pressure, smoking, and obesity.
Because our society is one that is becoming increasingly sedentary, more young people are exercising less, eating more, drinking alcohol at higher rates than other age groups, and not taking care of themselves as they should, resulting in the increased risk for heart attack. So what can be done? First, we must realize there is no magic age when heart attacks begin. In the past, increased risks for men began at age 45 and women at 55; now, we are seeing patients in their 30s, even 20s, having heart attacks that may lead to lifelong effects.
While the rate of heart attacks in the United States has gone down in recent years, studies show it has remained steady in people 50 and under. Now, new research suggests that many young heart attack victims have an unexpected risk factor in common: relatively normal levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol, but surprisingly low HDL “good” cholesterol.
Abnormal cholesterol is a known risk factor for heart disease, but health care professionals usually worry more about high numbers—both LDL and total cholesterol—than low ones. LDL cholesterol is associated with artery-clogging plaque, while HDL plays a role in clearing LDL from the arteries, reducing inflammation, and preventing blood clots. While just over half of heart attack victims in 1995 had high blood pressure, today nearly 80 percent do. And while the rate of tobacco use has declined significantly over the past 20 years, nearly half of heart attack victims are smokers, compared to 28 percent in 1995.
The most important thing you can do to lower your risk of developing heart disease and having a heart attack is to treat all modifiable risk factors. For example, stop smoking, lose weight, exercise, and monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol. Additionally, cholesterol-lowering medications may reduce your risk by changing the internal structure of the plaques, making them less likely to rupture. No matter your age, don’t become a statistic. Make sure to visit your health care provider for annual physicals. And if you have any heart attack symptoms call 911 immediately. Take care of your heart, and your heart will take care of you.
“Why More Young People Are Having Heart Attacks” is provided by the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center.
