More young patients hospitalized with cardiovascular diseases

In the past two years, the Hospital of Post and Telecommunications in Hanoi has treated 500 patients with cardiovascular diseases and around 20% are patients under 40, the hospital’s director Tran Hung Manh said Saturday.

“The number of young people hospitalized for cardiovascular diseases has increased 5-10% each year in recent years,” Manh said.

He cited a lack of physical activity, unhealthy diets, alcohol, and smoking as reasons for the increase.

Bach Mai, the largest public hospital in Hanoi, reported admitting 3,500 to 4,000 patients with cardiovascular diseases per year, with 15-17% under 40.

Pham Manh Hung, head of the Vietnam National Heart Institute under Bach Mai Hospital, said cardiovascular diseases were normal among the elderly but were increasing in younger patients.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases kill 200,000 people in Vietnam each year on average, with stroke and coronary artery disease causing the most fatalities.

The symptoms of cardiovascular diseases are similar among the elderly and young but the causes are different.

With the elderly, atherosclerosis, or the thickening or hardening of the arteries caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner artery, takes place gradually over the years.

For younger people, atherosclerosis happens because of an unhealthy lifestyle.

Doctors said to avoid heart diseases, people of all ages should avoid consuming fast food and alcohol, and to exercise regularly.