Your risk for heart disease increases with age, especially with people of color and for those who are over 65. While the average age for a heart attack is 64.5 for men, and 70.3 for women, nearly 20% of those who die of heart disease are under the age of 65.
People age 65 and older are much more likely than younger people to suffer a heart attack, to have a stroke, or to develop coronary heart disease (commonly called heart disease) and heart failure.
Age: CAD prevalence increases after 35 years of age in both men and women. The lifetime risk of developing CAD in men and women after 40 years of age is 49% and 32%, respectively.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurring in less than 45 years of age is termed as young CAD. Recent studies show a prevalence of 1.2% of CAD cases in this age group. Ethnic wise south Asians especially Indians are more vulnerable to have CAD in young age group with a prevalence of 5% to 10%.
It begins much earlier than you might think. "Atherosclerosis usually starts in the teens and 20s, and by the 30s we can see changes in most people," says cardiologist Matthew Sorrentino MD, a professor at The University of Chicago Medicine.
That's why coronary artery disease is labeled a disease of senior citizens. But as many as 4% to 10% of all heart attacks occur before age 45, and most of these strike men. It's a reminder that men should not ignore warning symptoms just because they are "too young" to have heart disease.
Yes, lifestyle changes, including diet, smoking cessation, stress management and exercise, can decrease the size of atherosclerotic plaques. They can also help to stabilize them so that they are less likely to break off and block blood flow, decreasing your risk of a heart attack.
That being said, if you make all the necessary changes and wholeheartedly adopt a healthy lifestyle, you can live a full and long life. By simply controlling the risk factors for CAD and by being fit, it is possible to prevent a cardiac event if you are diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
The increase in risk may be higher in older adults, women, and people who have diabetes or obesity. Air pollution may cause or worsen other conditions that are known to increase your risk of coronary heart disease, such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
About 18.2 million American adults have coronary artery disease, making it the most common type of heart disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary artery disease affects the larger coronary arteries on the surface of the heart.
Angina, or chest pain and discomfort, is the most common symptom of CAD. Angina can happen when too much plaque builds up inside arteries, causing them to narrow. Narrowed arteries can cause chest pain because they can block blood flow to your heart muscle and the rest of your body.
Autopsy studies indicate that obstructive CAD is present in approximately 50% of elderly women and 70% to 80% of such men.
Other risk factors
Other factors that affect your risk of developing CVD include: age – CVD is most common in people over 50 and your risk of developing it increases as you get older. gender – men are more likely to develop CVD at an earlier age than women.
Minor symptoms of heart blockage include irregular or skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness in the legs or arms, as well as neck or throat pain.
A health care provider might use an electrocardiogram to determine or detect: Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) If blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) are causing chest pain or a heart attack.
If the arteries become completely blocked this can cause a heart attack. Most people with coronary artery disease can play competitive or amateur sports. “People with long-standing coronary artery disease who wish to take up exercise for the first time should see their doctor first,” said Professor Pelliccia.
Magnesium prevents calcium buildup in cholesterol plaque in arteries, which leads to clogged arteries. Magnesium levels are inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
Walking for an average of 30 minutes or more a day can lower the risk of heart disease, stroke by 35% percent and Type 2 diabetes by 40%. It's not just your heart and muscles that benefit from walking. Regular physical activity can help: reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
“It takes years for cholesterol to build up in the arterial walls,” Goldberg says. But the clock starts to tick sooner than you may think. “It can begin as early as childhood,” Goldberg says. Research shows that children can have changes in their blood vessels that leads to this buildup of plaque when they grow up.
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. The ECG reflects what's happening in different areas of the heart and helps identify any problems with the rhythm or rate of your heart. The ECG is painless and takes around 5-10 minutes to perform.
Studies suggest that the high levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. These are common risk factors for heart disease. This stress can also cause changes that promote the buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries.