SAN ANTONIO — Heart disease is the leading cause of death here in the U.S. and in Texas. But a new study shows the rates of heart attacks is on the rise in younger people.
The age group we are talking about is people in their 30s and 40s. Cardiologists say more people in that age group are ending up in the ER. But why is that happening?
Michelle Routhenstein, a preventative cardiology dietitian told KENS 5, "Sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, a lot of diet fads that are out there are actually accelerators of plaque formation in the arteries, which is the number one cause of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks."
Increased rates of smoking, obesity, high stress, and not going to the doctor when you should are also big factors. Routhenstein added, "They may not be going to the doctor as frequently to assess high blood pressure or high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels, or even underlying inflammation."
A survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center looked at 2,000 Americans, each at least 18 years of age. The survey found that close to half, or 47% of those under the age of 45 don't think they are at risk for heart disease. "It's really disturbing because we have the opportunity to reduce this percentage instead of it going up. It should be actually coming down," said Rosenstein.
Signs that you may be having a heart attack include tiredness or fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pains, and chest flutters.
Routhenstein says she's even seen more athletes with heart attacks in recent years. "What ends up happening is if somebody over does the exercise and they're not pairing adequate nutrition, the body can have a lot of oxidative stress, which can also cause plaque to form in the arteries," she said.
Routhenstein also says that 80% of heart disease is preventable through proper nutrition, lifestyle intervention, and getting that yearly physical.