Not so long ago, cardiac ailments were associated mostly with old age, and a majority of people afflicted with heart attacks were in their 50s and 60s. While the overall rate of cardiac attacks has declined compared to the past, the new trend that has set in is the occurrence of such ailments in younger people.

The newer study findings indicate men and women in their 30s and even earlier are falling prey to cardiac disorders.

The so-called ‘old man’s disease’ is increasingly affecting the younger generations as per the new study findings by Dr. Ron Blankstein, a senior study author who serves as a preventive cardiologist at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital & in another major study, presented at a Scientific Sessions meeting of the American Heart Association and published in an AHA journal Circulation.

What do the study findings indicate?

The findings of both these studies are quite worrisome. For both genders, the root causes remain the same. The main reasons for the rise in heart attacks in youngsters are relying on junk food, stress at the workplace and home, lack of adequate exercise.

This is not limited to any country or ethnicity as such. What was prevalent in the USA and European nations have started affecting the so-called third world countries too.

With more married couples opting for working, it is a commonplace to see people trying to juggle career and household duties. This is making them more vulnerable to stress- paving the way for the onset of uncontrolled diabetes.

This often serves as a precursor to cardiac complications.

How to prevent the onset of a heart attack at a young age?

There are quite a lot of things you can do to reduce the risk of developing heart health problems early in life.

• Revamping the diet- The first thing young adults can do to reduce the risk of heart disorders is discarding junk and fast food from their meals. Rejecting sugar-heavy snacks and beverages is also necessary in this regard. People should include colorful vegetables and fresh fruits in their meals for optimal heart health. The diet should also include plenty of whole grains, beans, protein along with healthy fats.
• Working out- Resorting to various forms of exercise is also a key to keeping heart ailments at bay. Those who lack time to hit the gym can benefit from jogging or running daily.
• Healthy eating habits- It is not just enough to stop eating junk food to ensure improved heart health. Discarding trans-fat from the meals is important. It is also vital to evade the intake of excess salt and sugar intake through the foods cooked. Using too much oil to make foods should also be avoided, and methods like baking and boiling should be used more.
• Lifestyle habits- quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol are essential to evade onset of heart disorders early in life.