Heart health tends to slip at this age

It may be time to have an honest, heart-to-heart conversation about your bar.

Research shows Most people’s cardiovascular health begins to decline before they are old enough to vote, but young Americans do so Recognize the warning signs.

This means that millions are missing a crucial opportunity to take action and protect themselves from heart disease Main cause of death In the United States.

This condition is on the rise among adults under the age of 40, at rates More than double Since 2010.

But the problem often starts much earlier. By age 17, most people’s heart health scores — which take into account lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise, as well as clinical measures such as blood pressure and weight — have already begun to decline.

“I often care for people in their early 20s who are entering adulthood and already have serious cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or Body mass index in the obesity range.” Dr. Joel Scott“,” the primary care nurse wrote Conversation.

all over the country, One in five children and adolescentsor 14.7 million young people, which is a staggering number, suffer from obesity.

This extra weight puts extra stress on the cardiovascular system, can narrow the coronary arteries and even affect the heart rhythm.

Worse still, Studies indicate Carrying excess weight since childhood is more harmful to heart health than obesity in adulthood.

The numbers for other heart disease risk factors aren’t much better:

“Most children are born healthy, but unfortunately many of the benefits of heart health are lost during childhood, and less than 5% of U.S. children currently have optimal cardiovascular health.” Dr. David JacobsUniversity of Minnesota public health professor V statement.

Adding concern is that many young Americans are engaging in behaviors that increase their risk of being diagnosed with heart disease.

Just about One in four high school students in the United States Getting the recommended hour of daily exercise leaves many without the benefits of physical activity, such as a stronger heart, better blood flow, and reduced inflammation.

Use of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products It has also risenThe percentage increased from 21% of those aged 18 to 23 years in 2002 to 43% in 2018.

The good news: Many of these biomarkers and behaviors can be changed, and research shows that making adjustments can significantly boost your chances of preventing heart disease.

the The American Heart Association recommends Quit smoking and using e-cigarettes, reduce alcohol intake and adhere to a healthy diet full of nutrient-dense foods.

Adults should aim for 150 minutes of exercise per week Moderate exercisesuch as walking briskly, getting up Seven to nine hours of sleep Every night.

If you have diabetes, regular checkups are key to keeping your blood sugar under control. For anyone over the age of 20, cholesterol should be checked every four to six years.

“By making one healthy lifestyle change, you often pass the benefits on to others,” Dr. Mingsom Lee, a Kaiser Permanente cardiologist, said in a statement.

She explained that exercise, for example, can reduce cravings for cigarettes, improve sleep and enhance mental health, all of which are important for heart health.

“Understanding your risk factors and working to correct them early is a critical first step toward improving cardiovascular health,” Lee said.