You might think you have plenty of time to start thinking about your heart's health if you're in your 20s or 30s. Data reveals, however, that heart problems are growing today among younger individuals, especially women.

Caring about the health of your heart in your 20s and 30s not only preserves your heart, but it also helps to take care of it in the long term. Young people who are either doing higher studies or are employed are under stress because of social pressure to succeed. This mental burden can result in food habits that are unhealthy and unpredictable. Add to that, long hours on the job, not exercising, and the habit of irregular sleep, and you just add fuel to the flames.

In fact, here are all the risk factors that start in your 20s and 30s for heart disease, keeping a lid on which will give you good heart health later in life:

Smoking

Mental stress may trigger a smoking habit, either because of school or employment. Aside from having health issues and lung cancer, cigarette smokers are more likely to have a heart attack than non-smokers.

Obesity

Obesity rates are increasing among adults in their 20s and 30s. Obesity boosts the risk of a heart attack which may lead to premature death. Therefore, preferring a balanced diet over an unhealthy one is the safest. To ensure they have a balanced diet, you can include nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, food, whole grains, and poultry.

Birth control pills

Your blood pressure will be increased by oral contraceptives. For others, it might not be a concern. However, if anyone in their family has a history of heart failure, then that may be a problem for them.

Avoiding health check-ups  

Regularly monitoring cholesterol levels and blood pressure can significantly help reduce heart disease. It is safe, however, to have them tested on a regular basis.

Increased stress levels 

When one is young, stress is inevitable. What is beyond our power, though, is how we respond to it. If we take so much stress, different health conditions may result in it. Hence, to keep your heart safe, you should maintain an optimistic outlook.

High cholesterol

Erratic and unhealthy diets can cause high levels of cholesterol that can increase our chances of heart disease and stroke. The cause of a stroke in the 20s and 30s could be depression, lack of exercise, and too much sugar in the diet. Changes in lifestyles and diets will keep cholesterol levels under control.

You should make good life decisions in order to maintain a healthier heart and choose a primary care doctor who can assist if possible. If you take these steps, your heart will thank you for taking good care of yourself later in life. For the health of the spirit, eating well and exercise should be an important part of your everyday routine.