Millennials and Heart Health: Important Things You Should Know

A lot of millennials assume that heart health is not something they need to worry about until they get older. However, a recent study has shown that this is not the case!

In fact, over the past six months, 23 percent of millennials have experienced symptoms that could be indicative of a possible heart issue. Clearly, cardiovascular illness in millennials is more common than people realize.

Despite this, while virtually 77 percent agree that lifestyle changes can boost heart health, one in six have not done anything about this.

With that being said, let’s take a look at some millennials heart health research in further detail:

Risk factors of heart disease that young people may not know about

There are a number of different heart disease risk factors that young people do not know about. Not getting sufficient sleep is one of them. How much sleep do you get every night? A lot of millennials are shocked to discover that sleeping for less than six hours every evening is linked with an increased risk of getting heart disease.

Also, health issues during pregnancy can also be linked to heart issues in the future. Conditions such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes can all increase your risk of suffering from heart disease at a later date. However, it seems that no one tells these women that they should see a cardiologist if they have experienced these issues. In fact, a lot of people tend to view heart disease as something that mainly impacts men, yet this is not the case.

5 Important statistics and facts about heart health

To help you get a better understanding of heart health, especially in regards to millenials, we are going to take a look at some eye-opening statistics.

• One person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease (source)
• Millennials have 21 percent more cardiovascular illness when compared with Generation X (source)
• In 2019, cardiovascular disease was listed as an underlying cause of death in 874,613 deaths across the United States (source)
• Within one year of a heart attack, 26 percent of females will die, in comparison to 19 percent of males (source)
• Around 12 percent of those who have a heart attack will end up dying from it (source)

As you can see, heart disease is a serious concern for all age groups, especially millennials. Plus, the notion that it’s a “man’s disease” has well and truly been put to bed. While men can be more likely to experience heart disease earlier in life, it can actually end up being more serious for women, and after the menopause the rates of heart disease tends to even out amongst both sexes.

Warning signs of heart health issues that should encourage you to book an appointment with a GP

Most people with early or suspected symptoms of heart disease or coronary artery disease could see a general practitioner first, such as an internist or family physician.

A referral to a cardiologist would be made if the EKG or other initial testing is abnormal or the symptoms do not respond to simpler, non-cardiac treatment forms.

Some of the different signs that you may have heart disease and should see a GP are as follows:

• Feeling sick
• Chest pain
• Stomach pain or indigestion
• Leg pain or arm pain
• Feeling sweaty
• Irregular heartbeat
• Extreme fatigue
• Back or jaw pain
• Swollen ankles
• Choking sensation

If you have noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important to book an appointment with a GP as soon as possible. You can find a local specialist by using a doctor web finder tool. This will enable you to find a doctor in your local area with the required qualifications and a good rating to back them up.

Don’t assume heart health is something only older people need to worry about

So there you have it: an insight into cardiovascular illness in millennials and the different symptoms that are associated with heart issues. Do not make the mistake of assuming that you are too young to encounter heart issues. They are more common amongst young people than you may realize.