Every year, more and more young people are getting heart problems. Researchers wanted to know why.
So, they looked at a bunch of teenagers over several years to see if there were any early signs or clues that could help.
What they found was surprising. There’s a hidden danger that not many people know about, called arterial stiffness.
What is Arterial Stiffness, and Why Should We Care?
Arterial stiffness is when the big blood vessels, called arteries, in our body become less flexible. Imagine a rubber hose that’s been left out in the sun for too long and has become hard.
Now, think of our arteries in the same way. When they’re stiff, blood doesn’t flow as smoothly, which can strain our heart.
In adults, we’ve known that stiff arteries can lead to problems like high blood pressure and even diabetes. But what about young people?
The research teams from some top universities and hospitals, like Texas Children’s Hospital and the University of Eastern Finland, decided to dig deeper.
What Did the Researchers Find Out?
They picked almost 2,000 teenagers, who were 17 years old, and followed them until they turned 24.
They were trying to see if these youngsters showed early signs of heart trouble. And sure enough, they found something concerning.
Over those seven years, the number of these young adults with early signs of heart problems went up a lot.
The researchers did many tests, and after ruling out other reasons, they found that the stiffer the arteries, the higher the risk of these heart issues.
One of the main signs they looked for was changes in the heart’s left side. If that part of the heart becomes thicker or doesn’t pump blood as smoothly, it’s an early warning sign that the heart isn’t happy.
Another interesting thing they found was about something called “carotid wall thickness.” This is just a fancy way of saying how thick the wall of a big artery in the neck is.
If that wall is thicker than normal, it usually means there’s some buildup there, which isn’t good.
But in this study, even though some kids had this thicker wall, it wasn’t directly causing the heart problems. It was the stiffness in the arteries that was the bigger issue.
The researchers also found that when arteries are stiff, it can lead to higher blood pressure and changes in how our body uses sugar.
In fact, these two problems alone were responsible for about half of the heart problems in these young people.
What Can We Do About It?
According to Dr. Andrew Agbaje from the University of Eastern Finland, the study’s findings are a big deal. He said, “For the first time, we’re seeing that stiff arteries can cause a bunch of health problems in young people.”
But there’s some good news too. Dr. Agbaje believes that if we can find ways to keep blood pressure in check and make sure our body uses sugar properly, we could reduce the heart risks caused by stiff arteries by up to half.
That means regular check-ups, healthy eating, and staying active can make a huge difference. It’s like making sure that the rubber hose stays soft and flexible, so water flows through it smoothly.
Of course, more research is needed. But for now, this study gives a strong message: taking care of our hearts is crucial, even when we’re young.
And paying attention to the stiffness of our arteries might be one of the keys to doing that.
In conclusion, heart health is not just an issue for older people. Our young hearts can be at risk too, especially if our arteries aren’t as flexible as they should be.
It’s essential to understand these early signs and act on them. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and regular medical check-ups can go a long way in ensuring our hearts stay healthy for years to come.
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 heart health, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing that a year of committed exercise in middle age reversed worrisome heart failure.
The study was published in Atherosclerosis.
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