Research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has highlighted a connection between education level and the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.
Education Delays Heart Disease
The study looked at data from over 40,000 individuals, both Black and white, across three decades.
It revealed that those with higher levels of education tended to experience heart-related issues later in life compared to those with less education.
In fact, those who didn’t finish high school were more likely to face such events than college graduates.
Education doesn’t just help us get better jobs; it also affects our health literacy and our health-related choices, which can lower the risk of heart disease.
Higher education is linked with better access to healthcare, healthier environments, and better psychological well-being—all factors that contribute to heart health.
Not Just If, But When
The researchers discovered that education doesn’t only shield people from cardiovascular problems; it also influences the timing of these events.
Dr. Jared W. Magnani, the study’s lead, explained that more education is associated with a longer “health span,” meaning people enjoy more years free from cardiovascular issues.
However, the protective effect of education on heart health wasn’t the same for everyone. White participants benefited more than Black participants, highlighting how systemic and structural racism can create health disparities.
Despite higher education, Black individuals still faced higher risks than their white counterparts. This points to the complex barriers created by social and racial inequalities that affect health beyond individual education levels.
Magnani urges that social factors like education should be considered more in clinical research, as they are significant drivers of health outcomes. Currently, these factors are often overlooked in studies.
The Bottom Line
This study emphasizes the critical role that education plays throughout our lives, not just for career opportunities but also for our long-term health.
It’s a factor that healthcare providers can and should consider when assessing patient risk for cardiovascular disease. The findings also underscore the need to address structural inequalities that lead to health disparities, even among the educated.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects risks of heart disease and cancer, and results showing strawberries could help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
The research findings can be found in JAMA Cardiology.
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