Silent heart disease more prevalent than previously thought

Silent heart disease more prevalent than previously thought


Heart health is promoted everywhere, from cereal boxes to middle school gyms to online ads. It’s easy to think with the abundance of awareness and advice columns that you’ve skirted around heart disease.

But even if you don’t think you’re at risk, new research shows you should consider getting tested, anyway.

A study of 30,000 patients in Sweden found that about 4 in 10 otherwise healthy people had hardened arteries, called atherosclerosis. That’s when fatty deposits stick to artery walls around the heart, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack, kidney failure and stroke.

These patients had no obvious symptoms, but about 5% of them had significant coronary heart disease.

The disease is silent, but it can strike quickly. Symptoms may only appear just before an imminent stroke or heart attack, so researchers recommended that people get screened for plaque buildup even when they feel OK, especially as they get older.

The study found that men were nearly twice as likely to have heart disease as women, and that those between 60 and 64 were nearly twice as likely to have heart disease as those a decade younger.

Being aware of your family history and leading a healthy lifestyle are major steps you can take to lower your risk.

Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, decreasing alcohol intake and avoiding smoking all contribute to a happier heart.

You don’t know what’s building up in your heart’s thousands of vessels, but a visit to your doctor can help to solve the mystery. And doctors say treating the problem early — before it’s too late — can make all the difference.

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