A new study shows that a large percentage of seemingly healthy young adults already have a major symptom of heart disease called atherosclerosis.
Lead study author Dr. Eric Larose said, “These are young adults with no known risk factors. They had no diabetes, their cholesterol levels and blood pressures were normal. And none of them were obese. They were basically the picture of good health.”
He added, “The proportion of young, apparently healthy adults who are presumably ‘the picture of health’ who already have atherosclerosis is staggering.”
Atherosclerosis is a thickening of the blood vessel walls, and this condition may be present in even the slimmest, healthiest of patients, without them even realizing it.
Scientists in the study used an MRI scan to determine the results, but they also suggested a much simpler approach to diagnosing this problem in young patients; measuring waist to hip ratio.
Dr. Nehal N. Mehta, director of the Inflammatory Risk Clinic in Preventative Cardiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania told MSNBC, “It’s important to realize that these changes in the arteries begin early in life and that atherosclerosis is a chronic disease that takes years to develop.”
She added, “You don’t have to wait to see a doctor to find out if you’re at risk. Just take a tape measure and see how your hips compare to your waist.”
While this easy trick can help gauge your risk for heart disease, experts also say healthy lifestyle choices, especially regular exercise, can improve heart health dramatically.
To learn more, read the full article: Many 'Healthy' Young Adults Have Hidden Heart Problems
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