Heart Attack Cases Surge: Young Adults Increasingly Affected
ISTANBUL – A concerning trend of heart attacks in younger individuals is prompting medical experts to investigate potential causes and emphasize the importance of preventative care.Recent cases, including a 42-year-old patient experiencing eight successive heart attacks and another requiring a bypass at age 38, highlight a growing crisis impacting cardiovascular health.
The rise in incidents comes amidst ongoing public discussion regarding the relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and heart health. However, Prof. Dr. Cuneyt Koçaş asserts that extensive data from studies involving thousands of patients demonstrate no link between vaccination and heart attacks, and may even reduce the risk of heart attack in vaccinated individuals.
Vascular blockages, the underlying cause of many heart attacks, develop over years due to cholesterol plaque buildup, exacerbated by factors like hypertension, diabetes, smoking, malnutrition, and genetic predisposition, according to Koçaş. While stress isn’t a primary risk factor, recent studies indicate it significantly increases the risk of heart attack.
“Although stress is not among the main risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension, in recent years, studies show that it significantly increases the risk of heart attack,” Koçaş stated.
Genetic factors play a crucial role in conditions like cardiovascular blockage and heart wall thickening. Koçaş stresses the importance of regular checkups,especially for those experiencing heart attacks at a young age.
Regarding the commonly cited “risky age” of 40s for heart attacks, Koçaş explained that older individuals frequently enough experience slower blockage progress, allowing for “natural bypass” formation that limits damage. “Since there is no such ‘preparation’ in cases of crisis in young people, serious damage to the heart can occur with sudden blockage,” he said.
