Many people think heart attacks mostly happen to older adults. However, new research shows that this is not always true.
Heart attack deaths are increasing among younger adults, especially women under the age of 55.
This surprising finding is worrying doctors and health experts because it challenges the common belief that younger people are safer from serious heart disease.
The study looked at nearly one million hospital cases in the United States between 2011 and 2022 involving adults aged 18 to 54 who had their first heart attack.
Researchers found that deaths in the hospital rose among this younger group, even though earlier studies suggested heart attack deaths were going down overall. The increase was about 1.2 percent, which may sound small but represents many lives when applied to a large population.
Women were found to be at greater risk than men. After a first heart attack, young women were more likely to die in the hospital compared with young men. This was true for both severe and less severe types of heart attacks. The findings were published in a special issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association that focuses on women’s heart health.
There are different kinds of heart attacks. One of the most dangerous is caused by a complete blockage of blood flow to the heart. This type can quickly damage heart muscle and is often life-threatening.
Another type happens when blood flow is only partly blocked, which is still serious but sometimes less deadly. The study showed that deaths increased mainly in the more severe cases.
Researchers also noticed that women often received fewer heart procedures than men. These procedures can help doctors find blocked arteries and restore blood flow. Without them, the heart may suffer more damage.
Even though women had similar rates of complications as men, they were treated less aggressively. This difference in care may partly explain why more women died.
Another important discovery involved risk factors. Traditional risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. However, younger women were more likely to have what researchers call nontraditional risk factors.
These include things such as low income, kidney disease, mental stress, and use of certain drugs not related to tobacco. These factors can make it harder to access care, maintain healthy habits, or recover after illness.
The study suggests that these nontraditional risks may be strongly linked to death after a heart attack, sometimes even more than traditional risks. This means doctors may need to look beyond the usual warning signs when evaluating younger patients, especially women.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, but awareness campaigns have often focused on older adults. The American Heart Association created the Go Red for Women program to highlight that heart disease is also the biggest health threat to women. Despite progress in awareness, gaps still exist in diagnosis and treatment.
Experts say the findings show an urgent need to identify risks earlier in younger adults. Many young people do not think they need heart checkups, and symptoms in women can be different from the classic chest pain often shown in movies.
Women may feel shortness of breath, nausea, unusual tiredness, or discomfort in the back, neck, or jaw. Because these signs are less obvious, treatment may be delayed.
Healthy lifestyle choices can still make a difference. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, managing stress, and routine health screenings can reduce the risk of heart disease. But the study shows that social and economic factors also matter, meaning that improving access to care and support is just as important.
Although the research used hospital records and did not follow patients long-term, the results highlight a troubling trend that needs more attention. Understanding why younger adults, especially women, are facing higher risks could help doctors prevent future deaths.
This study reminds us that heart health is important at every age. Paying attention to warning signs, seeking medical help quickly, and supporting healthy living could save lives.
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