Heart disease is on the rise among young adults in the UK, prompting a GP to express major concern over the spike in cases. While often associated with older generations, the condition is increasingly affecting those under 40, with lifestyle habits playing a significant role.
The Rise in Heart Problems Among Young People
Every week, one in 12 healthy young adults in the UK dies from an undiagnosed heart condition. Gen-Z is often seen as the healthiest generation, favouring coffee shops over pubs and morning runs over late nights. However, a GP has warned that certain habits can increase the risk of heart problems, and even active individuals are not immune.
Danish footballer Christian Eriksen, 34, collapsed during a match for the second time this week. He suffered a heart attack in 2021 and was fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) that monitors his heart rhythm and delivers shocks if needed.
Lifestyle Factors Contributing to the Trend
Dr Asimah Hanif, working with Staysure, says everyday habits are a major driver. “The rise of vaping is particularly concerning. It is still seen by many young people as safe, but evidence suggests it raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, and can damage arterial walls over time.”
He adds that diets high in ultra-processed food, long periods of inactivity, and chronic stress are putting pressure on the cardiovascular system from a young age. “These risks do not announce themselves. By the time symptoms appear, damage has often already been done.”
Vaping: Not Harm-Free
While battery-powered vapes lack the toxic effects of tobacco smoke, they are not entirely safe. A 2016 study in Environmental Science & Technology found harmful emissions in vapour, including possible carcinogens. Professor Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation says: “Just because e-cigarettes may be less harmful than tobacco does not mean they are completely safe. We still do not know the long-term impact on the heart and circulation.”
He advises that e-cigarettes should only be used as a tool to help people stop smoking, not taken up by non-smokers.
Fitness Does Not Guarantee Heart Health
Dr Hanif notes that physical fitness and heart disease are not mutually exclusive. “You can be in peak cardiovascular condition and still have an underlying heart condition that exercise alone will not prevent or fix.” He points to Eriksen’s ICD as a device that likely prevented a more serious outcome after his second collapse.
UK researchers have found that young women with silent heart issues are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). A voluntary screening service discovered that out of nearly 40,000 women aged 14 to 35, 175 had undiagnosed issues, with 94 at high risk of SCD, according to the BBC.
Calls for Screening and Preventive Measures
The UK National Screening Committee is reviewing whether all over-14s should be checked for conditions linked to SCD. Each week, 12 people aged 35 or below die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition, says the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
Dr Steven Cox, chief executive of CRY, told The Independent: “It is one of the most common causes of death in young people. We believe it is an incredibly under-resourced area and there is a general underestimation of young sudden death and its impact on families and communities.”
Steps to Protect Heart Health
Dr Hanif recommends small changes that can make a real difference: eating whole foods, staying active, avoiding smoking and vaping, getting enough sleep, and having blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly. “And if you do have a diagnosed condition, managing it properly with your GP is just as important as any lifestyle change,” he says.
For those concerned about heart health, it is advised to speak to a GP or healthcare professional. More information is available on the British Heart Foundation website.
