Child Heart Disease: Even 7-year-olds are at risk of heart disease. Learn how to identify it.:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Childhood Hypertension: Currently, various heart-related diseases are spreading like an epidemic, an epidemic in the sense that what used to affect people over the age of 35 is now affecting children as young as 7. In India, 20 to 25 percent of the adult population suffers from high blood pressure. Explained in simple, medical terms, it's called hypertension. Previously, people thought that high blood pressure was a problem for people between 30 and 40 years of age, but today, you can find many children between the ages of 7 and 12 who are affected. This has been documented in numerous studies. Let us explain how you can diagnose it.

Why is there danger at a young age?

According to a report by the American Heart Association (AHA), a new study has shown that if someone develops high blood pressure at the age of 7, they are significantly more likely to die by the age of 50. The study tracked both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over a long period of time. Previous studies had shown that if someone develops high blood pressure at the age of 12, their risk of heart disease increases significantly by adulthood. However, a new study now suggests a risk as early as 7 years old.

Why is there danger at a young age?

There are many reasons for the rise in heart disease at such a young age, such as an unhealthy lifestyle from childhood (excessive junk food consumption, long hours spent watching mobile phones and TV, and limited physical activity) that increases the risk of heart disease. Obesity and high blood pressure also increase the risk of heart disease. Some children develop these diseases due to genetic or congenital heart problems.

How to identify

If you want to know whether you are getting heart disease at an early age or not, then you can find out like this-

Shortness of breath after little activity
Tiring quickly when playing or running
Frequent chest pain or discomfort
fast heartbeats
Bluish lips or skin (a sign of low oxygen supply)
Lack of proper weight gain or frequent weakness

To prevent this, it's important to provide children with a healthy diet and try to limit junk food and excess sugar. Additionally, if there's a family history, periodic heart checkups should be performed by a doctor.