Cardiac events and the younger population: can it happen?

A common misconception is that cardiac events only happen to the older population. It is important to remember that teenagers and young adults can have heart attacks and other cardiac events too.

As young adults and teenagers, it is important to understand your cardiovascular health and take preventative action to ensure that you remain healthy and have a long life. Cardiovascular events don’t just occur in the elderly or older adults. Cardiovascular events in youth and teenagers have been increasingly reported over the last few years and have resulted in serious health issues, even death.

While the risk of a cardiac event is typically lower in younger age groups, it is still important for young people to be aware of their heart health and take steps to reduce their risk. This means understanding the basics of cardiovascular fitness and strength guidelines and adhering to optimum heart health through diet and lifestyle choices. By following these steps, young adults and teens can reduce their risk for cardiac events and improve their overall cardiovascular health.

Additionally, knowledge of the risks associated with certain lifestyle choices can help young people make informed decisions about their heart health. Common risky behaviours for young adults and teenagers putting you at risk of developing heart disease:

• Smoking / Vaping

• Consuming excessive amounts of takeaway and confectionary

• Consuming energy drinks

• Alcohol and substance consumption

• Living a sedentary lifestyle

• Not disconnecting from technology (long duration on games, computers, phones, etc)

It is even more important to be thinking about these risk factors if you have a history of heart disease in your family. If you don’t know your family history, now might be a good time to discuss it with your family.

If you are worried about your risk of heart disease, please consult your GP.

If you are not sure what to do in regard to exercise, physical activity, or sport as a preventative measure, an exercise physiologist can help. Exercise physiologists specialise in preventative treatment for chronic conditions and can help to make lifestyle and behaviour changes.