Why Are So Many Young Women Having Heart Attacks?

Dr.Sukriti Bhalla, 2 mins read

For the past few years, heart attack cases have been on the rise. What is more concerning is that young adults are also having heart attacks, which was not usual a decade ago. Why? 

This question might be going round and round in your head. 

Well, recent research reveals the answers. It has been known for years that clogged arteries cause heart attacks due to fat or high cholesterol. But this research discloses a few more factors that play a significant role. This is more true for young women. Here is the science behind it.

Heart Attack & Women: What Does the Research Say?

The 15-year research conducted by Mayo Clinic has found that over 50% of heart attacks in women below 65 years of age are not caused by clogged arteries. Instead, they are caused by often overlooked and misunderstood factors like:

• Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)

An emergency condition that occurs when a tear is formed in the wall of an artery, which can affect blood flow to the heart. Though it can affect anyone, women in their 40s and 50s are at higher risk. 

Shockingly, SCAD can happen to even someone with no risk factors like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes. SCAD is primarily associated with hormonal fluctuations, post-discharge changes, and genetic predisposition.

• Coronary embolism

Another emergency condition that happens when a clot (embolus) travels through the blood and lodges in a smaller artery. This increases the risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack). An emolus can consist of a blood clot, air, fat, tumour, and other substances.  

• Severe infections

Infections like pneumonia and urinary tract infections (UTIs) substantially increase the odds of having a heart attack. Certain infections trigger inflammation. In turn, our body increases white blood cell production to fight the infection. This process may increase the stickiness of cells called platelets, which can raise the risk of clot formation.   

• Anaemia  

A heart needs an adequate blood supply to function properly. In case of anaemia, there are not enough red blood cells, which compromises the heart’s function.     

What Next

Once, heart attacks were a disease of older age. Now, the cases are even rising among young adults. And shockingly, women are at higher risk of heart attack and cardiovascular disease (CVD).  

What is more surprising is that there are many risk factors other than those we know traditionally, revealed by recent research. The research has also disclosed that individuals with these non-traditional risk factors have higher five-year mortality rates. 

Thus, it’s essential for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or comorbidities, to undergo a periodic health checkup to identify any potential obstacles early and receive timely treatment.