Contents:
- Medical Video: Congenital Heart Disease: Katie's Story
- Symptoms of a heart attack in young children
- Causes of heart attacks in young children
- 1. Kawasaki Disease
- 2. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- 3. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- What should be done to prevent a heart attack at a young age?
Medical Video: Congenital Heart Disease: Katie's Story
Heart attacks in young people often occur. At any age, a heart attack is a very serious event. But it seems this sounds more terrible to young people. But, is a heart attack in young people as fatal as what happens to the elderly? Yes and no. Short-term prospects for victims of heart attacks under the age of 45 years are actually better than older patients. Maybe because they often have only one heart blood vessel disorder and also have a heart muscle that is still good.
However, in one study of patients who had a heart attack at an average age of 36 years, as many as 15% would later die within 15 years. In another study of heart attack cases in young people, both men and women under the age of 40, only 1% died within 1 year, but 25% died in less than 15 years.
Symptoms of a heart attack in young children
According to the American Council on Science and Health, the usual symptom of heart attacks in young people is a feeling of pressure on the chest, shortness of breath, and cold sweats. These symptoms can be signs of heat attacks, asthma, or even side effects from emotional outbursts. But simultaneously, they can also be a diagnosis of signs of a heart attack, especially if you are an individual under the age of 40. In addition, other signs can also be chest pain, nausea, jaw pain, and vomiting.
Causes of heart attacks in young children
There are many causes of heart attacks in young people who are equally dangerous. All of them can cause heart attacks in men and women under the age of 40. The following are various causes:
1. Kawasaki Disease
This is a rare childhood disease. Kawasaki involves inflammation of blood vessels, such as arteries, capillaries and veins. Sometimes this Kawasaki disease affects the coronary arteries that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Children who have this disease can develop serious heart problems later on. This is usually immediately known by the doctor if you have had a second heart attack at the age of 24 years.
2. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common cause of heart attacks in young children, including young athletes, and this is usually inherited. This disorder is caused by a mutation of the gene in the heart muscle, which is characterized by enlarged heart muscle cells. This enlargement causes the ventricular wall (the "pump" of the heart) to thicken, which can block blood flow. Ventricles then have to work harder to pump blood flow which makes physical activity unsafe, and often escapes early detection.
3. Coronary artery disease (CAD)
This is usually the cause of heart attacks in men. As many as 10% of all heart attacks occur in men under the age of 45 years. Just like heart attacks in the elderly, 80% of heart attacks in young people are caused by coronary artery disease, which is a blockage of cholesterol in the arteries that serve the heart. Other causes of early heart attacks in men include abnormalities of one or many arteries, blood clots in other areas that are carried to the coronary arteries, disorders of clotting systems, spasm or inflammation of the arteries, chest trauma, and drug abuse.
The bulk of coronary artery disease in younger men is associated with the same risk factors as in older people. These include a history of heart disease in the family, smoking, alcohol, high cholesterol, air pollution, hypertension (high blood pressure), abdominal obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, lack of exercise, increased C-reactive protein levels, and poor diet.
What should be done to prevent a heart attack at a young age?
In fact, many heart health threats are caused by lifestyle. Smoking is the biggest threat, and that is why this is the first thing that must be seriously addressed and addressed. Being overweight or obese is another important factor. Lack of physical activity can also damage the heart, just like drug abuse. And for someone with diabetes, lack of attention to this serious condition can also pose a risk to the heart.
And without a doubt, young adults experience heart attacks more often than older adults, so they must pay attention to symptoms that might be a sign of a heart attack. Meanwhile, for heart attacks that occur due to Kawasaki disease and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, you have no control, so the only way is to have a healthy lifestyle.
