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News Topical, Digital Desk : We often assume that heart disease occurs with age. Most people think that heart attacks and other heart-related problems only occur after the age of 60 or 70. But the reality is quite different. Today's fast-paced life, poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, and lack of physical activity have quietly spread heart disease to young people. The most dangerous thing is that heart disease progresses slowly. Initially, there is neither severe pain nor any clear warning. This is why people ignore it, and by the time they realize it, the damage has already been significantly done. Now, a new scientific study has revealed another important fact about heart disease, which is especially worrying for men.
What does the new study say?
A large, long-term study of more than 5,000 young people in the United States, aged 18 to 30, has revealed that men develop coronary heart disease (CHD) approximately 10 years earlier than women. The study, known as CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults), was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). Researchers found that the risk of heart disease is roughly equal for men and women between the ages of 20 and 29, but this risk increases sharply for men around age 35. This difference persists into middle age. Surprisingly, this difference persists even after accounting for factors like blood pressure, smoking, and cholesterol.
Why do men develop heart disease earlier?
Dr. Harshit Gupta, senior interventional cardiologist at Regency Hospital, Lucknow, explains that there are several reasons behind this. Men have less hormonal protection than women. Women's estrogen provides temporary protection to the heart. Men are more likely to smoke, drink, have stress, and have an irregular lifestyle from a young age. Biological differences also increase this risk. However, doctors also clarify that the hormonal protection women receive is not permanent. Women's risk of heart disease also increases rapidly with age.
The biggest cause of death in the world
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), heart disease accounts for 32 percent of all deaths worldwide. In 2022, approximately 19.8 million people died from heart disease. These figures clearly show that heart disease is no small problem.
What is the solution?
Researchers believe that prevention of heart disease should begin at a young age. It's crucial to have heart health checkups and adopt a healthy lifestyle at the age of 20-30. A balanced diet, regular exercise, stress reduction, smoking cessation, and regular health checkups are key to maintaining a healthy heart over the long term.
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