The high rate of heart attacks in young people… four possible reasons

Recent studies have shown a significant increase in heart attack rates among young people in the United States, as data from the National Center for Health Statistics shows an increase in the percentage of adults between the ages of 18 and 44 who ‘ suffered a heart attack during the period between 2019 and last year.

Doctors and researchers are trying to understand the factors that cause this huge increase, and they have identified four main reasons, the most important of which is high levels of obesity among young people.

Andrew Moran, a cardiologist and epidemiologist at Columbia University, tells the website:Yahoo live“The rate of increase in obesity is much faster in young adults than in older adults.”

This trend is largely related to changes in lifestyles and eating habits, as fast food and processed foods have become an essential part of the diet for many.

A low-quality diet and more sedentary lifestyles contribute to the development of what cardiology professor Perry Merz calls the “obesity disease of diabetes,” referring to the increases at the same time in obesity and diabetes levels, which causes high blood pressure, which in turn. leading to weakening of the heart and damage to the blood vessels.

The second factor that attracts the attention of researchers is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on heart health. Studies have shown that the Corona virus may damage this vital organ and the cardiovascular system, which increases the risk of heart attack.

In the first two years of the pandemic, a 30 percent increase in heart attack deaths was seen among people aged 25 to 44, highlighting the potential long-term effects of the virus, even the among younger age groups.

A third factor that may be behind the increase is the neglect of preventive health care, as experts say that young men in particular may be “out of the scope of preventive health care,” the meaning they are unaware they have conditions such as high blood pressure. stress or diabetes until they progress to advanced stages.

Finally, according to the same site, a group of risk factors for young women is emerging, and these factors include higher levels of smoking and vaping, as well as media-related stress social, which plays a role in influencing the menstrual cycle and hormone levels. , which increases the risk of heart disease.