Young, thin people are having heart attacks: Is Covid the reason behind this worrying surge?

Earlier, heart attack was considered a disease that affected someone in their later years, but that is no longer the case. There has been an alarming increase in the number of youth suffering from heart attacks. The disease has been seen at alarming rates, especially in healthy young adults. Over the past four years, the number of heart attacks among young people in the US has increased by 66 percent – ​​one in five heart attack patients is under the age of 40. A report in the Daily Mail traces this trend’s connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Reasons behind the worrying rise of heart attacks in young adults

The report mentions that several factors play a role in increasing the risk of heart attack in young and fit adults – drug use, obesity and sedentary lifestyle are some of the main reasons. However, considering the timing, Covid-19 is suspected to be active here too.

The COVID-19 virus can cause widespread inflammation throughout the body, particularly affecting the heart and causing blood clots. During the lockdown, people were forced to stay at home – leading to increased depression, anxiety and stress. All these can trigger the risk of heart attack.

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Impact of Covid:

It is suspected that the timing of the increase in heart attacks is directly related to the Covid pandemic. The Covid virus, once inside the body, can cause inflammation in the heart – a condition known as myocarditis. This makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood throughout the body. This condition can damage the heart and make it unable to pump blood throughout the body. This is when heart attacks become more common.

The Daily Mail report also cites Cedars Sinai cardiologist Dr. Susan Cheng, who authored a 2023 study that found heart attacks among people ages 25 to 44 were less likely during the early years of the pandemic. Deaths due to coronavirus increased by nearly 30 percent. He also said then that the relationship was ‘more than coincidental’.

‘Clearly young people really shouldn’t be dying from heart attacks. In fact they are not at all likely to have a heart attack…There are a lot of things that COVID can do to the cardiovascular system. It appears to be able to increase the viscosity of the blood and increase the likelihood of blood clots forming. ‘It seems to cause swelling of the blood vessels. ‘It seems that it may cause excessive stress in some people – whether directly related to the infection or the conditions surrounding the infection – which may also cause an increase in blood pressure.’

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have about a medical condition.