Yes, even young people can have heart conditions
Heart Health
Taking the following actions starting in your 20s or 30s can help your heart’s health throughout our lifetime
February is American Heart Month, and throughout the month, we’ll have several articles educating you on the importance of taking care of your heart – all year long – as well as other heart-related content
Think you’re too young for heart problems? You may want to think again.
Heart disease is more common as we age. If you’re in your 20s, 30s or 40s, you might believe it’s something you don’t need to worry about right now. However, it’s never too early to start paying attention to your heart’s health.
The rise in obesity and diabetes at earlier ages only adds to the risk of heart problems in young adults. For 25- to 34-year-olds, heart disease is the fourth leading cause of death in both genders. For 35- to 44-year-olds, heart disease is even deadlier – the second killer of men and the third biggest killer of women.
“The heart is a critical organ that you can’t live without, and if it’s not functioning well at any age, you may not live well with it,” says Dr. Michael McNeely, primary care physician at St. Joseph’s/Candler at the Islands. 
Most likely, if you are in your 20s or 30s, you are not seeing a cardiologist. That’s why it’s so important to see a primary care physician annually. They can monitor your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and heart rate – among many other things – and refer you to a cardiologist if needed.
Taking care of your heart can help prevent heart disease at any age. It also lays the groundwork for a longer, healthier future. Here’s what you need to know about heart problems in young adults.
High blood pressure
Blood pressure tends to rise with age. Yet, by their 20s and early 30s, about 29 percent of men and 14 percent of women already have high blood pressure. Compared to older adults, young adults with high blood pressure are less likely to receive treatment and get their blood pressure under control.
High blood pressure that isn’t controlled may lead to problems down the road including:
- Heart disease
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Peripheral arterial disease (poor blood flow to the legs)
- Kidney disease
High cholesterol
High cholesterol also raises your risk for heart disease and stroke over time. The chance of having high cholesterol increases with age, but among people in their 20s and early 30s, about nine percent of men and five percent of women already have the problem.
Unhealthy habits may contribute to high cholesterol, especially poor diet. However, some people also may have a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which causes high cholesterol levels at a young age. If FH isn’t diagnosed and treated, it can lead to early risk for heart disease, stroke and heart attack.
Related Article: What is cholesterol?
Healthy lifestyle
Practicing a healthy lifestyle at any age can help your heart’s health, especially if you make following a healthy lifestyle a habit at a younger age. This includes:
Don’t smoke. If you smoke, stop now. Smokers are four times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers. Smoking accelerates the hardening of the arteries, explains Dr. McNeely.
“Smoking obviously has an effect on the lungs, but it’s also a major determinant of plaque build-up in the blood vessels, whether it’s those in the heart, brain, legs or elsewhere in the body,” Dr. McNeely says. “I tell patients whatever you do, don’t start smoking, or if you are a smoker, stop now because the risk of vascular disease, heart attack and stroke is multiplied when you smoke.”
Lose extra weight. Obesity is a major risk factor for not just heart disease but also diabetes, which additionally has an impact on your heart. When people have more fat, it requires more blood supply in order to nourish the extra fat, Dr. McNeely explains. That in turn increases blood pressure and puts a strain on the heart.
“People who lose weight will have less cardiac demand and less problems overall. Losing weight helps with lowering blood pressure, as well as preventing or controlling diabetes.”
Related Article: Does our weight affect our heart?
Diet. One way to lose weight or keep extra fat off is by following a healthy diet. Avoid or limit red meat, fried foods, highly-processed foods and other foods high in saturated fats, Dr. McNeely recommends. All these foods are known to contribute to obesity and heart disease.
Related Article: Six foods to add to your diet to improve heart health
Exercise. Living a sedentary lifestyle at any age is also something you can change to improve your heart’s health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes or moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. Increasing physical activity increases the levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and strengths your heart muscle.
Limit alcohol. Alcohol doesn’t have a direct impact on your heart if you are a moderate drinker. (The recommendation is no more than one alcoholic beverage for women and two for men daily.) However, two much alcohol can impact other risk factors, including raising blood pressure, increasing the levels of triglycerides and leading to obesity.
“Exercising, following a prudent diet that limits salt, keeping alcohol to a minimum and taking any medications for pre-existing conditions can impact your heart in a positive way,” Dr. McNeely says. “Your heart is absolutely essential, so let’s take care of it – at any age.”
If you are you in 20s and 30s and are not seeing a primary care doctor, now is the time to start. A primary care physician performs all necessary screenings and lab work to help diagnose any conditions or risk factors, such as the ones mentioned above.
St. Joseph’s/Candler has more than two dozen primary care physicians that see patients across the region from Savannah to Richmond Hill to Statesboro to Bluffton. Find the right one for you by searching here.