Why Heart Health Matters in Young Adulthood

February is American Heart Month, and the path to having a healthy heart later in life begins when we’re young. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, heart disease leads to the most deaths in men and women across most ethnic and racial groups, accounting for about one in five of all U.S. deaths in 2022.

The good news is, by making heart-smart choices now, we can help prevent heart disease later so we can live the full, active and meaningful lives we love for many decades. Keep reading to learn about the importance of paying attention to heart health in young adulthood to set the stage to feel whole for life.

Young Adult Heart Disease Prevention

You can take steps to mitigate your heart disease risk, particularly in your 20s and 30s. Most people aren’t thinking of heart disease during these stages of life, and we’re here to tell you to think about heart health. Here’s what you can do:

Know Your Family History

A family history of heart disease puts you at higher risk of developing it yourself due to genetics. Grandparents, parents and siblings with a history of cardiac arrest or heart attack, stroke, heart failure, dying at a younger age or dying unexpectedly are all details that you should share with your primary care provider.

Screenings and Numbers to Know

There are four key numbers you should know for your heart health. They are:

1. Blood pressure
2. Blood sugar
3. Body mass index (BMI)
4. Cholesterol

It only takes about fifteen minutes to get these simple heart health screenings that gives you the numbers you need to live a whole life.

Heart Healthy Lifestyle Habits That Make a Difference

In addition to knowing your numbers and risk factors for heart disease, there are lifestyle changes you can make to keep your heart beating healthy and strong for years to come.

They include:

1. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet: Aim for a diet that’s rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and protein-rich foods, like beans and lentils, fish, lean meats, and nuts — and low in sodium, saturated fats and added sugars. Even drinking two cups of tea a day can lower your risk of heart disease.
2. Getting enough exercise: Aerobic exercise is most beneficial for cardiovascular health. That’s any exercise that causes your heart to beat faster and for you to use more oxygen than usual, such as running, biking and swimming. Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity each week.
3. Quitting smoking (or committing never to start): Smoking not only raises your risk of heart disease, but it also makes other risk factors worse. Ask your doctor about products or local programs to help you quit. Virtual and in-person group sessions sponsored by the USF Area Health Education Center Program are regularly posted on AdventHealth Tampa’s website.
4. Limiting alcohol: If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. For women, that means no more than one drink a day. For men, it means no more than two drinks a day. Drinking too much alcohol is linked to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease.
5. Getting enough sleep: Sleep is critical to good health. Not getting enough sleep, or enough quality sleep, can raise your risk for health conditions like heart disease. Adults should try to get between seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
6. Managing stress: Stress causes a whole host of health problems, including high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors. To reduce your stress levels, there are several options you can try, including practicing meditation, going for a walk, talking with a friend or family member or meeting with a counselor.
7. Maintaining a healthy weight: The more body fat you have and the more you weigh, the higher your chances for developing risk factors for heart disease and heart disease itself. That’s why, along with eating a nutritious diet and getting enough exercise, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is so vital to heart health.

Whether you take steps to live a heart-smart life one at a time, or choose to tackle them all at once, making them will help keep your heart beating strong and your risk for heart disease low.

Whole Health for a Full Life Starts Here

At AdventHealth Heart and Vascular Care, we know that prevention through a healthy lifestyle is the best medicine against heart disease and other ailments. We encourage you to include heart-smart lifestyle choices as part of your path to whole health. That means a nutritious diet, plenty of physical activity, fresh air, positive connections with others and preventive care. Your heart will thank you for it — now and into your heart-healthy future.

We’re here for you as your partner in whole health. Learn how we can help support your heart health here.