Imagine that 30-year-old Mr. Li posted a photo of the marathon he had just completed on Moments, full of vitality and vitality. But just a few months later, he was rushed to the hospital with difficulty breathing and unusual fatigue. The results were unexpected – heart failure, commonly known as heart failure. How could this disease, which is regarded as a "geriatric disease," appear in a young Mr. Li? This is not an isolated case, and more and more young people are being hospitalized for heart failure. Today, we will explore the reality that heart failure is not the "patent" of the elderly, but also needs to be vigilant against the reality of young people.
The relationship between the causes of heart failure and age: youth is not a talisman
The reality of heart failure affecting young people
Conventional wisdom has shown that heart failure primarily affects older people, but recent research shows that the disease is becoming younger and younger. According to statistics, about 20% of heart failure patients are young people under the age of 45. This shift suggests that heart failure is no longer unique to older people.
A major contributor to heart failure in young people
Bad lifestyle habits: Long hours of work, staying up late, and living a high-stress life are the norm for modern young people, and these habits seriously affect heart health and increase the risk of heart failure.
Genetic factors: Some young people with heart failure carry specific genetic variants that accelerate the decline in heart function.
Early-onset heart disease: such as congenital heart disease, myocarditis, etc., these diseases are not diagnosed and treated in time, and can further develop into heart failure.
Environmental and life stress: The fast-paced and high-intensity work pressure of modern society increases psychological stress, which directly affects heart function.
Warning signs of heart failure in young people
Early recognition of signs of heart failure is essential for prevention and treatment. Common early symptoms of heart failure in young people include:
Persistent fatigue that is not consistent with daily activity
Unusual dyspnea during exercise
Palpitations or irregular heartbeats
Shortness of breath at night and need extra pillows to sleep comfortably
How to prevent heart failure through lifestyle
Regular exercise: Moderate aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, swimming, and at least 150 minutes a week can enhance heart function.
Eat a balanced diet: A diet high in fiber, fat, and salt can help keep blood vessels healthy and blood pressure stable.
Weight management: Avoid obesity and check your weight and body mass index (BMI) regularly.
Stress management: Learning stress management techniques, such as meditation, yoga or other relaxation techniques, can help reduce the strain on your heart.
Regular check-ups: including electrocardiograms and echo-heart examinations, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.
Early warning signs of heart failure: Identify the initial symptoms and prevent them before they occur
Heart failure, commonly known as heart failure, is a clinical syndrome in which the heart's ability to pump blood decreases. Young people often ignore warnings of heart failure because the symptoms are not obvious at the beginning or because they are mistaken for other diseases. Proper recognition of these early symptoms is essential for the prevention and timely treatment of heart failure.
Identification of early symptoms
Persistent fatigue and weakness: If you find yourself feeling unusually tired without increasing your physical activity, or even finding difficulty with light daily activities, this could be an early sign of heart failure. The heart's ability to pump blood decreases, resulting in a lack of blood supply to all parts of the body, resulting in fatigue.
Dyspnea: shortness of breath may occur initially only during physical activity, and as the disease progresses, it may also feel shortness of breath at rest. This is caused by heart failure causing fluid to flow back up in the body and fluid accumulating in the lungs.
Palpitations: People with heart failure may feel an abnormal heartbeat or feel a marked discomfort with a beating heart, especially at night.
Increased nocturia: Patients with heart failure may experience frequent nocturia at night, which is associated with abnormal water metabolism due to cardiac insufficiency.
Swelling of the legs or ankles: Swelling of the lower limbs may occur due to the weakening of the heart's ability to pump blood, which prevents fluid from circulating effectively in the body.
By identifying these symptoms at an early stage, timely medical intervention can be carried out and thus the further progression of heart failure can be avoided.
Positive lifestyle modifications: Prevention is better than cure
Preventing heart failure is not just a task for older people, young people also need to reduce their risk of heart failure through active lifestyle modifications.
Eat a healthy diet
Balanced intake: Ensure adequate intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and high-protein foods, and limit the consumption of foods high in fat, salt and sugar.
Drink plenty of water: Adjust your daily water intake according to your weight and activity level to avoid over-hydration on your heart.
Regular physical activity
Moderate exercise: At least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming or cycling, can help strengthen heart function and blood circulation.
Avoid overexertion: High-intensity anaerobic exercise may increase the burden on the heart, so adjust the intensity and duration of exercise appropriately.
Improvement of lifestyle habits
Regular work and rest: Ensure 7-8 hours of high-quality sleep every day and avoid staying up late.
Stress reduction methods: Use meditation, yoga or deep breathing to effectively manage stress in life and work.
Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol: Tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption are important triggers of cardiovascular disease, and quitting smoking completely and drinking alcohol in moderation is essential for heart health.