Am I too young to get a heart attack?

A heart attack happens when the flow of blood to a section of heart muscle suddenly becomes blocked and the heart can’t get oxygen. The heart, like other parts of the body, requires blood for it to be nourished and for it to perform its function. If blood flow is not restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die.

Heart attacks most often occur as a result of what is called coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease. CHD is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries (blood vessels of the heart). These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart.

When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. The build-up of plaque occurs over many years. Eventually, an area of plaque can rupture (break open) inside of an artery. This causes a blood clot to form on the plaque’s surface. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly, or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery.

If the blockage is not treated quickly, the portion of heart muscle that receives blood from the artery begins to die.

Heart with muscle damage and a blocked artery

Figure A is an overview of a heart and coronary artery showing damage (dead heart muscle) caused by a heart attack. Figure B is a cross-section of the coronary artery with plaque build-up and a blood clot.

A less common cause of heart attack is a severe spasm (tightening) of a coronary artery. The spasm cuts off blood flow through the artery. Spasms can occur in coronary arteries that aren’t affected by atherosclerosis.

You’re never too young or too healthy to have a heart attack. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology recently, reported that heart attacks are more fatal for young women ages 30 to 54 than they are for men.

While there isn’t much you can do to change bad genes that may put you at risk for certain diseases, there is plenty you can do to change your lifestyle. This begins with quitting smoking, improving your diet and losing weight, if necessary, by eating plenty of vegetables, whole fruits, whole grains, as well as lean protein and good unsaturated fats, and getting at least 20 minutes of cardio or core-strengthening exercise most days of the week. Also, don’t spend long hours sitting in front of TV and computer screens. Stand at your desk, when you can, to break up periods of sitting. It’s also important to reduce stress in your life, get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night, and monitor your alcohol intake.

Remember, you do have control over the lifestyle choices you make. So, make good ones.

Dr Rosmond Adams, MD is a medical doctor and a public health specialist. He is also an ethicist with training in research ethics and medical ethics. He is the head of Health Information, Communicable Disease and Emergency Response at the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).

He is also a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Coordination Mechanism (GCM) on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

(The views expressed here are not written on behalf of CARPHA nor the WHO)

Dr Rosmond Adams is a medical doctor and a public health specialist.

He may be emailed at: adamsrosmond@gmail.com