Nearly Half Of Adults Over 40 May Have Hidden Heart Conditions: How To Check The Risk?

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One-fifth of the 17.9 million cardiovascular disease-related deaths worldwide occurs in India, especially among the younger generation. The most common causes of heart disease in younger people are unhealthy lifestyles, unbalanced diets, stress, smoking, and drinking [1].

Recent research suggests that heart disease may develop at an early age and remain latent for a considerable period of time [2].

The research found that a significant number had not been diagnosed with heart disease, but did have subclinical obstructive coronary atherosclerosis, a type of heart disease without symptoms associated with a greater than eightfold higher risk for myocardial infarction, or heart attack [3].

Adults Over 40 Have "Hidden" Heart Conditions: What You Should Know

According to the study, it is important to closely monitor heart issues and to detect them as early as possible. Further, the study provides a new and significant method of observing the natural history of coronary artery disease [4].

Interestingly, as many as 10% of the study respondents had obstructive diseases without experiencing any symptoms, which suggests that people over the age of 40 are at an increased risk of heart attacks.

As experts point out, people should be checked at ten and twenty years of age. The key is to keep checking these risk factors and gain more control over all of this. This includes what you eat, whether you smoke, and how much you exercise [5].

In addition, experts mentioned that it is enlightening to see that more than half of the men in this study and nearly one-third of the women were found to have subclinical atherosclerosis.

Likewise, 10% of the study population had obstructive coronary artery disease.

How Do I Know My Heart Attack Risk?

A heart check is a way of finding out how likely you are to have a heart attack or stroke in the next five years. It involves answering a few questions and performing some simple tests.

These tests measure your current risk factors, such as your age, weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. Your doctor can then assess your risk and help you to take steps to reduce it [6][7].

On A Final Note...

The study found that heart issues may develop at an early age, many years before the clinical disease develops.

The study concluded that it is important to start heart-healthy habits at an early age, not to wait until symptoms appear or a certain age has passed.

This is because the heart is a muscle, and good habits can help to strengthen it over time. If a person waits until symptoms appear or a certain age has passed, it may be too late to make lasting changes and prevent further damage to the heart.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.