Young men may be ignoring a growing threat to their heart health until it’s too late. A new study found that cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk begins rising in men as early as their mid-30s, with cardiac risk differences emerging between men and women at age 35.
Researchers analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which included 5,115 Black and White men and women aged 18 to 30. The study found that starting at age 35, men were nearly twice as likely as women to develop CVD within the next 10 years.
The main culprit behind this increased risk is coronary heart disease (CHD), caused by plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart. By age 50, 4.7% of men had developed CHD, compared with 2.9% of women who didn’t reach that same risk level until age 57.
Experts stress that young adulthood is a critical time to take cardiovascular risk seriously and implement prevention strategies. Factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes can significantly increase CVD risk. A broader assessment of risk factors could help detect cardiovascular problems in younger people before symptoms develop.
To reduce heart risk, experts recommend adopting healthy lifestyle habits, including a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing cholesterol levels. Regular health check-ups starting from age 30 are also crucial to review family history and other risk factors.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2026/03/15/age-heart-attack-risk-increases