Heart attacks at 60 are becoming as routine as diabetes at 35. With the rapid increase in unhealthy lifestyles such as sitting, unhealthy eating and smoking, heart disease is increasingly becoming the leading cause of death worldwide. In addition, genetic susceptibility to heart disease may also play a role.
Although heart disease is often associated with older adults, it is becoming more common among middle-aged adults. In fact, recent studies have shown that people in their 40s and 50s have an increased risk of heart disease, especially if they have other risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
“We have observed an alarming trend in the increase in heart attacks among Indians over the age of 60. This is due to several factors such as high prevalence of risk factors, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, genetic factors and lack of awareness. Indians have many risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol levels which can contribute to the development of heart disease and increase the risk of heart attacks,” says Dr. Vishal Khullar, director of the CTVS and Heart and Lung Transplant Unit. , Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital.
With increasing urbanization and modernization, many Indians are sedentary and eat an unhealthy diet. Some Indians may also be genetically predisposed to heart disease.
Dr Abhijit Khadtare, cardiologist at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, says: “Cardiovascular disease is particularly likely to affect the elderly and aging population. Adult age is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), although other factors such as frailty, obesity and diabetes increase these risks. These factors are known to exacerbate and complicate the cardiac risk factors associated with the onset of aging. The age-related increase in cardiovascular disease risk correlates with a general decline in sex hormones, especially estrogen and testosterone.”
Despite this, it has been shown that HRT does not generally improve patient outcomes in older patients and may even increase the chances of cardiac events in older individuals, and given that older women are said to have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than age. men, this is a potential risk factor for aging adults.
Aging is an important factor in the deterioration of cardiovascular health, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly. “Atherosclerosis, stroke, and myocardial infarction are among the cardiovascular diseases that have been shown to increase in prevalence with age in both men and women,” adds Dr. Khadtare.
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According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the incidence of cardiovascular disease in US men and women is 40% between the ages of 40 and 59, 75% between the ages of 60 and 79, and 86% between the ages of 80 and older. Current understanding of how age affects the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease, focusing on gender differences in cardiovascular disease in older adults, to better understand factors that need to be considered when developing future treatments for the aging population. The timing of diabetes diagnosis varies between 30 and 50. Early diagnosis of diabetes increases the risk of heart problems.
Given the expected duration of exposure to high glucose levels and other risk factors, a patient who develops type 2 diabetes at a younger age has a higher lifetime risk. Dr. Khadtare believes that younger people may also have a physiological trait, inherited or not, that predisposes them to harm from high blood sugar levels and other risk factors. “You are more prone to heart disease if you have diabetes. People with diabetes are also more likely to have heart attack risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol or stroke. High blood sugar caused by diabetes may damage both blood vessels and the nerves that control them,” he adds. Over time, this injury can lead to heart disease. Diabetics usually suffer from heart disease faster than healthy people. Stroke or heart diseases occur about twice as likely in diabetics.
“The lack of information and preventive measures to reduce the risk of heart disease and heart attacks contributes to this trend. It is crucial that people consult their healthcare professionals for personalized advice to reduce their risk of heart disease and heart attacks,” says Dr Khullar.
The consequences of a heart attack are serious and can lead to long-term damage or even death. Therefore, it is very important to take preventive measures such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, quitting smoking and managing chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Early detection through regular health checkups can also help identify and manage risk factors before they lead to a heart attack.
Overall, it’s important to prioritize heart health and take proactive steps to prevent heart disease, especially as people reach middle age and beyond.
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