Young Adults Don't Think About Heart Health

Nearly half of young adults in the U.S. say they are not concerned about heart disease or stroke and don't believe their current behavior will affect their health later on.

"There is a clear disconnect," says Ralph Sacco, M.D., president of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. "Even though young people may think they are in good health, ... current statistics show that less than 1 percent are meeting our definition for ideal cardiovascular health."

Lifestyle to blame

The typical lifestyle choices of an 18- to 24-year-old - fast food, too many sugary drinks, and alcohol use - all contribute to heart disease. In a recent survey, nearly half of the 1,250 adults ages 18 to 44 polled admitted to smoking, and all age groups ranked stroke as the least of their health worries. Only 18 percent of those surveyed could indentify one risk factor for stroke.

Although most of those surveyed said they wanted to live until age 98, they aren't practicing the behaviors typically attributed to a long and healthy life: eating lots of fruits and vegetables, avoiding "bad" fats, keeping alcohol use to a minimum, exercising regularly, and not smoking.

Early decisions important

"Young people may not realize that healthy behaviors now translate into better health in middle adult life," says Dr. Sacco. "Living a healthy lifestyle at the earliest ages is critical to living free of cardiovascular disease and stroke."

David L. Katz, M.D., at Yale University School of Medicine, blames the attitudes on youth's natural sense of immortality.

"I'm not sure we can expect adolescents and young adults to be reliable judges of the healthfulness of their behaviors," he says. They can play now, and pay later. "But pay later, they will. And, with ever-more chronic disease [arising] at an ever-younger age, later comes sooner, and sooner."

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.