Young people are increasingly at risk of heart disease, a worrying trend attributed to a combination of unhealthy lifestyle choices, rising stress levels and environmental factors.
Speaking at the 76th Annual Conference of the Cardiological Society of India held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow on Friday, Professor Vikas Agarwal, HoD, cardiology, at BHU, Varanasi, highlighted several key factors contributing to this growing health concern.
“Although there is no study to prove it, doctors have observed that young people have heart disease because of a sedentary lifestyle, poor eating habits, etc.
“Poor dietary patterns, often high in processed foods, sugar and unhealthy fats, contribute to obesity and high cholesterol levels, which are significant risk factors for heart disease among young people,” Agarwal said.
“In addition, a sedentary lifestyle, with increased screen time on laptops, phones and less physical activity, play a major role in increasing cardiovascular problems among young people.”
Another key factor contributing to the increasing incidence of heart disease is stress. Anxiety, pressure and sleep deprivation are more prevalent in today’s fast-paced lifestyle, even among students.
The high-pressure academic environment, coupled with high expectations from parents and teachers, exacerbates the risk. Professor Agarwal noted that while genetic factors may contribute to heart disease, lifestyle choices remain the main cause of this trend.
Interestingly, it was once believed that hormonal secretions during menstruation protected women from heart problems during their younger years. However, today, more women adopt unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking, which has led to an increase in the number of young women who become susceptible to heart problems.
Before menopause, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone help protect blood vessels and reduce the risk of heart disease in women. However, after menopause, women have higher cholesterol levels, making them more vulnerable to heart conditions than men. Early prevention and lifestyle changes are essential to combat these risks, according to experts.
In cold environments, blood vessels constrict to conserve heat, which increases the pressure in the circulatory system and, therefore, increases the heart rate.
According to Dr. Satyendra Tewari of SGPGIMS, environmental factors such as extreme temperatures (hot or cold), high humidity, air pollution and noise levels can significantly affect your heart rate making your body work harder to regulate its temperature and oxygen levels, carrying. at an increased heart rate; Essentially, your heart beats faster in response to environmental factors such as heat or cold to maintain homeostasis.
