Many people think heart attacks strike without warning, but new research suggests the groundwork is often laid years — even decades — beforehand. In a massive analysis involving more than 9 million adults, researchers found that nearly every person who experienced a heart attack, stroke or heart failure had at least one major modifiable risk factor before the event occurred. Most had two or more.
The four most common risk factors were elevated blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar, tobacco exposure and unhealthy cholesterol levels. While these markers are often treated as isolated problems, they frequently stem from the same underlying issue: metabolic dysfunction.
Excessive intake of processed foods, chronically elevated insulin levels, poor sleep, lack of movement and other lifestyle factors can gradually damage blood vessels long before symptoms appear. By the time a heart attack occurs, the process may have been developing silently for years.
The findings highlight an important reality: cardiovascular disease is often preventable when warning signs are addressed early. Rather than waiting for symptoms, monitoring key metabolic markers and supporting healthy blood sugar, blood pressure and vascular function may help reduce long-term risk. The sooner underlying imbalances are corrected, the greater the opportunity to support heart health before serious complications develop
SOURCE:
The Hearty Soul