Heart disease may begin years—or even decades—before symptoms appear. Two new studies suggest that signs of future heart problems can emerge surprisingly early in life, highlighting the importance of prevention from a young age.
In one study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers used imaging scans to look for atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty plaque inside the arteries, in 16,808 adults with no known heart disease. More than half—57 per cent—already had signs of the condition. Even among adults ages 18 to 29, about one in 13 showed early plaque buildup. By ages 60 to 70, nearly nine in 10 had evidence of atherosclerosis.
The researchers found differences between men and women. Plaque tended to appear earlier in men, while women experienced a sharper increase around menopause.
About 20 million people worldwide die from cardiovascular disease each year, and atherosclerosis is a major cause.
A second study, published in Circulation: Population Health and Outcomes, examined 1,283 young adults with an average age of 23. Nearly 80 per cent showed early stages of cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, which links obesity, diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. About three per cent already had signs of artery damage.
Together, the studies suggest that heart health is shaped much earlier than many people realise. Healthy eating, regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough sleep, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar can help protect the heart.
