Cardiovascular Disease Trends Increase among Young Generations

Cardiovascular disease trends pose significant health risks to those 18-45 years old, according to a review published online in Nature Reviews Cardiology. The authors assessed risk factors associated with heart disease, such as heart failure, arterial fibrillation, and mortality, among this age group across the globe. Heart disease rates rose over the last two decades despite a decline among older generations, mainly due to increased obesity rates, lack of physical activity, and other lifestyle factors linked to heart disease. The authors found strong links between unhealthful diets, including consumption of processed meats, and increased risk for stroke, high cholesterol, and cardiometabolic death. These observations suggest an approaching epidemic as these individuals age.