Heart attacks/disease in younger age groups rising?

[pentangles]

I was just reading about this, which seems to have gained more awareness since the pandemic. A 30% increase in heart issues in people aged 25-44.

According to the BHF, this is likely connected to poor diet, GP access and lack of intervention from government (+austerity), since there has been a sharp rise as of 2012.

What do you think might be contributing? I had no idea about this previously so am a bit shocked. One link suggested more smoking/vaping, but surely there are less young people doing that today than 40 yrs ago?

You often hear about how health/fitness focussed younger generations are, how they are boozing less than my own gen X did (!!!), yet something appears to be wrong.

Any thoughts?

Many people are much more overweight than they used to be. The average is now overweight and no me thinks you’re even particularly big until you’re really quite obese.

this may be a factor. Also people tend to be indoors a lot more. They may not be smoking as much but young people on the whole also aren’t moving as much.

Agree about the not moving much. Increased car use will have an impact, definitely, and most fitness/gym trends are moving towards strength training which is great but not to the exclusion of others, perhaps.

I do notice a LOT of larger young people, but they really do look larger framed, as opposed to obese. Unless I am naïve.

Steroid use in gyms?

I would put money on high caffeine energy drinks being a contributing factor. The amount of teenagers I see with them is worrying.

Working out too much creates small tears in your heart that one day pop.

Great observation

I was in Wetherspoons recently on a Saturday night for the first time in years and was absolutely shocked by the number of obese young people.

someone I know is vastly overweight. Has high BP, smokes and drinks more than is healthy. Her dad died of a heart attack at 50 but she doesn’t care enough to even try and change her life style. 🤷‍♀️. It’s not as if she has mental health issues or anything. She just cares about being able to eat whatever she fancies, smoking and drinking more than she does her health. She can’t be the only one like that out there.

As a HCP my opinion is poor diet, lack of exercise and general inactivity, vaping, obesity, and recreational drug use.

The gym bunny fitness crowd are the minority IMO. Lazy overweight people are the majority.

I was actually wondering about caffeine stats recently

Given how much is bought outside, and the popularity of Nespresso etc I was actually thinking about links to road rage

but it seems like a link here too

also increased drug use might be a factor

And the fact they don’t seem to have as much silly fun it all seems so serious.

Not heard of that one, but did locate a good few google results blaming the covid vaccine.
Correlation is not causation, obviously.

I know a woman who blames the vaccine for every illness or death in her 65+ age group. I am not of that opinion personally.

Would be interesting to see how male/female rates might differ.

That may well have something to do with it. Also high nicotine vapes will increase your heart rate, probably even more so than smoking.

I don't know if there has been any research done in this area, but agree with pp that caffeine drinks, sitting around gaming and constant snacking on crap stuff will lead to problems.

It's not only heart diseases, just look at the amount of colon and other cancers that younger people are getting. And that's amongst those who are fit and eat well. There is talk of ultra processed food being a contributory factor. For all of us, not just the young. But since few expect those in the teens and twenties to be out of range for heart disease unless it's congenital, it's concerning for sure.

Hadn't thought about energy drinks. If there is a link surely the gov would act?

Many will say poverty, any some will definitely be related, concerning the generations of people who have almost dropped out of society (unemployable, addiction, etc). I think the BHF would have stated if this was the only demographic.

I have heard that obesity is climbing the class ladder, so to speak, and not just affecting people who' can't afford an oven' (classic Guardian excuse for ALL unhealthy food choices).

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/what-does-coronavirus-do-to-your-body

Well obesity is probably a big factor

I do see a lot of young men drinking energy drinks, especially on my train journeys. And I mean a bloody lot! Coke and soft sugary drinks too, usually early 20's age range. Haven't noticed that as much with girls.

Maybe they need something to 'do' with their hands?

Also, stress.

Too many people do zero exercise and are bringing up the next generation in the same way. Why don’t more families do Park runs each weekend - great way to exercise as a family.

As a health professional ..,.Obesity ,obesity ,obesity …..the change in consumption of upf’s and alcohol (the latter ,particularly women) since the 90’s and the growth in proportion of people who spend most of their time being sedentary ( particularly men) has created a decline in younger people’s health, the stats around presentation of liver disease in younger people are also very scary.

Honestly, where I grew up, most would be too hungover or drinking through the weekend.
I live in a tourist location at the moment and many of the visitors rarely go far from their car. And short or long stays usually involve a fuck ton of booze.

recreational drug use.

Smoking some weed of an evening never killed anyone.

The word is in "recreational".

British Heart Foundation acknowledges the consequences of infection here:
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/what-does-coronavirus-do-to-your-body

• use of cocaine.

Every chronic weed smoker I've known has been an arsehole.

Still alive tho!

That said, higher strengths and skunk do have many related issues, particularly concerning mental health.

Plus use of cocaine