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Did You Know that Heart Disease Could Happen at Any Age?
However, in recent years, research has shown a rise in heart disease occurring in younger people between the ages of 35 to 64. Heart disease is no longer a disease that primarily affects the elderly. Everyone has a chance of developing heart conditions, especially if you are living an unhealthy lifestyle.
Our cardiovascular health is significantly influenced by our lifestyle choices. The likelihood of developing heart disease is typically increased by a combination of several risk factors. Your chances of getting heart disease increase as your risk factors increase.
Prevention begins at a young age
Regardless of your age, it is important to start paying attention to your heart health while you are still young to ensure a longer, healthier life.
You should start monitoring risk factors such as your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and weight in your 20s. If you are over 35 years old, you should be monitoring them every five years.
Going for regular health screenings are crucial especially if you have family history of cardiovascular diseases and if you have the following modifiable risk factors.
- High blood pressure
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, 3 out of 10 Malaysian adults have high blood pressure or hypertension.
The heart is constantly working under increased pressure, thus leading to heart failure, thickening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, and stroke. - High cholesterol levels
High cholesterol levels lead to fatty deposits developing in the blood vessels. These fatty deposits form a plaque which can cause the blood vessels to narrow as it accumulates over time. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. When the blood vessels begin to narrow, blood flow is restricted, leading to the development of heart diseases. - Smoking
Did you know that smoking contributes to atherosclerosis? This means smoking accelerates the narrowing of blood vessels. Furthermore, the chemicals in cigarette smoke can thicken blood and result in clots forming within veins and arteries. In summary, smoking is linked to arterial stiffness, high blood pressure, and an increased heart rate. - Obesity
According to the World Population Review 2019, 15.6% of Malaysian adults are obese, which means Malaysia has the highest rate of obesity among adults in Southeast Asia.
Obesity leads to the build-up of plaque in the arteries. Additional weight also leads to more stress on the heart because it has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. - Sedentary lifestyle
Living a sedentary lifestyle or being physically inactive can contribute to several risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and increased blood sugar levels. When these levels go up, the walls of blood vessels are damaged, thus causing an increased risk of heart diseases.
Maintaining a positive attitude, exercising, and meditation can help to deal with stress, thus keeping your heart healthy.
The above are modifiable risk factors, which means they are conditions which you can control. It is never too early to start taking charge of your health. Going for routine health screenings will give you the information you need about your body to make smarter and better decisions to protect your heart.
Book an appointment at Pantai Hospitals
At Pantai Hospitals, we offer a wide range of health screening programs catered to each individual, depending on their health and needs. The team of healthcare professionals will assist to recommend or tailor a screening package to suit your age, gender, family, and medical history.
For appointments, please contact the Health Screening Centre at your nearest Pantai Hospital.
Pantai Hospital Malaysia is accredited by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health (MSQH) for its commitment to patient safety and service quality.
