The increase in heart attacks among young people is a concerning trend compared to previous years. Experts have observed a rise in this trend among individuals aged 18-44, including those who appear to lead a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise routines and good fitness levels. Several health professionals attribute this worrying trend to a combination of factors such as a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and stress.
Cardiologists emphasize that signs of a heart attack may manifest hours, days, or even weeks before the actual event. Many individuals may dismiss these signs as unrelated health issues. For example, symptoms like neck and shoulder pain, nausea, indigestion, and other stomach discomforts are not commonly associated with heart problems. Early signs, like shooting pain in the arm or jaw, can also precede a heart attack and may present differently from the typical chest pain, heaviness, or tightness.
A report from DailyMail sheds light on lesser-known early indicators of heart attacks that may occur in young and highly fit individuals weeks before the event. Sweating excessively, particularly experiencing shortness of breath without physical exertion, could be a warning sign of an impending heart attack according to experts. Dr. Deepak Bhatt, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai in New York, notes that waking up sweating more than usual could also be a red flag.
Additionally, experiencing pain in the neck and shoulders is a typical symptom in women, as many do not feel the classic chest pain associated with heart attacks. Women may feel persistent discomfort in the back, neck, jaw, or shoulder blades before or during a heart attack. Other warning signs include fatigue, sweating, and nausea.Management before or during a heart attack may be confused with acidity or heartburn. Feeling unusually and completely exhausted without physical exertion should be noted and discussed with your cardiologist, as advised by the BMJ journal. Symptoms may include chest pressure, tightness, or heaviness, distinct from pain, sometimes mistaken for a muscle strain. Additionally, some individuals may experience intense shooting pain in their arm or jaw, which could be signs of an impending heart attack.
According to a report by DailyMail, there has been a significant increase in heart attacks among young individuals. In 2019, approximately 0.3 percent of Americans aged 18 to 44 experienced a heart attack, which increased to 0.5 percent in the following year. This represents a 66 percent rise in such cases in just four years, with one in five heart attack patients now being younger than 40. Experts emphasize the importance of addressing risk factors such as obesity, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Individuals with a history of chronic diseases should be vigilant about their dietary choices and avoid alcohol and smoking. Additionally, the question of why physically fit people may also suffer from heart attacks is raised.
