Cardiologist revealed the causes of early heart attacks in modern people

Vaping and smoking accelerate the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and cause arterial spasm. In addition, unhealthy diet and stress can lead to heart problems. Natalia Zolotareva, cardiologist at SM Clinic, told Izvestia about this on April 3.

According to her, smokers have a two to four times higher risk of heart attack than non-smokers, and even "light" cigarettes and electronic devices are dangerous. Vapes, despite safety myths, contain toxic substances that disrupt the function of the endothelium, a thin layer of cells that protects blood vessels.

Unhealthy diet can also lead to a heart attack. The expert explained that excess saturated fats (red meat, fast food), trans fats (confectionery, margarine) and simple carbohydrates (sugar, white bread) leads to obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. These conditions are the basis for atherosclerosis.

"The habit of "seizing stress" or regularly consuming foods with a high salt content is especially insidious: hypertension, which develops against this background, overloads the heart and accelerates the wear of the arteries," the cardiologist noted.

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Along with this, heart problems are also caused by a sedentary lifestyle — physical inactivity. The doctor clarified: with a lack of movement, metabolism slows down, the level of "bad" cholesterol (LDL) increases, and blood vessels lose elasticity. She claims that even 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week reduces the risk of a heart attack by 30%.

Zolotareva noticed that chronic stress and lack of sleep also hit the heart.

"Constant tension increases the level of cortisol and adrenaline, which increase the pulse rate, constrict blood vessels and increase blood pressure. Add to this lack of sleep — less than seven hours of sleep per night — and you get a "perfect storm" for the heart muscle," said the cardiologist.

Drinking alcohol, even in small doses, can also lead to heart problems. The specialist explained that regular alcohol intake damages the heart cells, provokes arrhythmias and increases the level of triglycerides in the blood.

At the same time, the doctor noted that it is not necessary to neglect visits to the doctor for chronic diseases.

"For example, with diabetes, the risk of a heart attack increases two to three times due to the toxic effect of glucose on blood vessels, but controlling sugar and blood pressure reduces this threat by 50%," the expert concluded.

Earlier, on April 2, Andrey Kostikov, a therapist at Dr. Alexandrovsky's Medical Center, told Izvestia about possible diseases with shortness of breath. He explained that Shortness of breath can be associated with a disease of the heart, lungs or nervous system. At the same time, if a feeling of lack of air occurs suddenly and is accompanied by a high fever or chest pain, you should immediately contact an ambulance.