Alarming surge in cardiovascular disease among young adults, warn experts

Sep 29,2023

New Delhi: World Heart Day, observed annually on September 29th, serves as a dedicated occasion for raising awareness about various life-threatening heart ailments and advocating for heart health. In the contemporary era, fatalities stemming from heart-related disorders have become a prevalent issue. Conditions such as heart failures, heart attacks, cardiac arrests, and other cardiovascular diseases are now subjects of global concern. The theme for World Heart Day 2023 is “Use Heart, Know Heart.”

In a recent report released by the World Heart Federation (WHF), it was revealed that there was a significant increase in global cardiovascular disease(CVD) fatalities, rising from 12.1 million in 1990 to 20.5 million in 2021. The report also highlighted that CVD emerged as the primary cause of mortality worldwide in 2021, with four out of every five CVD-related deaths taking place in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The rise in heart attacks among young individuals has become a concerning trend in recent years. This surge in cardiac events and associated problems is largely linked to our fast-paced way of life and shifts in behaviors. Previously, heart attacks were primarily associated with older individuals; however, they are now affecting a significant portion of people aged 30 to 40. ETHealthworld interacted with medical experts to gather more insights on this matter.

Highlighting the key factors responsible for heart disease in young adults, Dr Hisham Ahamed, Associate Professor and Consultant Cardiologist, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, said “key risk markers for heart disease in young adults are also common among an older age group of patients. However, one notable shift we have observed is the rampant increase in the incidence of diabetes and high cholesterol levels in our part of the world. Factors associated with heart disease risk markers in the older population are now also increasingly seen in young adults. Some of the key risk factors for heart disease in young adults include the early onset of diabetes, uncontrolled blood pressure (systemic hypertension), and dyslipidemia (elevated cholesterol). Along with obesity, these risk markers combined are rising factors in the increased incidence of heart disease in young adults.”

Source: HealthWorld