Heart disease—and the conditions that lead to it—can happen at any age. High rates of obesity and high blood pressure among younger people (ages 35–64) are putting them at risk for heart disease earlier in life.
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.
Coronary artery disease often develops over decades. Symptoms may go unnoticed until a significant blockage causes problems or a heart attack occurs. Following a heart-healthy lifestyle can help prevent coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease may also be called coronary heart disease.
Just like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels in your 20s, 30s and 40s raise your risk for heart disease and stroke. Obesity, lack of physical exercise and a diet that includes too much sugar and too many processed foods are often the culprits.
A buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries (atherosclerosis) is the most common cause of coronary artery disease. Risk factors include a poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity and smoking. Healthy lifestyle choices can help lower the risk of atherosclerosis.
If you cough a lot, often feel weak, have lost your appetite, and need to urinate a lot at night, you might have symptoms of heart failure. Heart failure is a long-term condition that usually comes on slowly. However, it can develop suddenly, for instance, after a heart attack.
In general, more than half of all people diagnosed with congestive heart failure will survive for 5 years. About 35% will survive for 10 years.
The intensity of the pain does not always relate to how severe the heart problem is. Some people may feel a crushing pain, while others feel only mild discomfort. Your chest may feel heavy or like someone is squeezing your chest or heart. You may also feel a sharp, burning pain in your chest.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States. One person dies every 33 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 695,000 people in the United States died from heart disease in 2021—that's 1 in every 5 deaths.
Once you've been diagnosed with heart disease, you can't be cured. But you can treat the things that contributed to the development of coronary artery disease. In turn, this can reduce how the condition impacts your body.
Symptoms of heart failure
breathlessness after activity or at rest. feeling tired most of the time and finding exercise exhausting. feeling lightheaded or fainting. swollen ankles and legs.
The majority of heart attack deaths occur in patients ages 65 and older, but a man's risk begins to increase at 45 (for women, it starts at 55).
According to a 2014 review that looked at 20 years of data in Sweden, about 1% of the total hospitalizations for heart failure occurred in people between the ages of 18–44 years. In the United States, an estimated 6.2 million people live with heart failure. Of these, about 1.4 million are below the age of 60 years.
Stage A (pre-heart failure) means you're at a high risk of developing heart failure because you have a family history of congestive heart failure or you have one or more of these medical conditions: Hypertension. Diabetes. Coronary artery disease.
Unusual swelling in the legs, feet, hands, or abdomen. A persistent cough or chest congestion (the cough may be dry or hacking) Increasing fatigue or a sudden decrease in your ability to do normal activities. A loss of appetite or nausea.
Get to your doctor. You may have trouble breathing, an irregular heartbeat, swollen legs, neck veins that stick out, and sounds from fluid built up in your lungs. Your doctor will check for these and other signs of heart failure. A test called an echocardiogram is often the best test to diagnose your heart failure.
In addition to chest pain, symptoms of a clogged artery may include: Dizziness. Feeling like your heart is racing (heart palpitations) Nausea.
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.
Tests for Clogged Arteries
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart that can help us to assess the risk of heart disease while a carotid Doppler ultrasound allows us to measure the flow of blood through the arteries that supply your brain. The carotid Doppler scan is used to evaluate the risk of a stroke.
Indicators of a Healthy Heart. Heart Rate – For most adults, a normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Physical activity and exercise increase your heart rate while stress, activity, anxiety levels, and medication can also affect your resting heart rate.
While blood tests help your healthcare provider better understand your heart disease risk, they're not a definitive diagnosis. If your blood test results show you have an increased risk, your provider may recommend further testing. Talk to your provider about any questions or concerns you have throughout this process.