Читать книгу Low-Carb Diet For Dummies - Katherine B. Chauncey - Страница 83

You fall into this age bracket if you’re a man between the ages of 20 and 35 or a woman between the ages of 20 and 45.

Heart disease is rare in this age bracket except in those individuals with severe risk factors, such as a genetic tendency for high cholesterol or high triglycerides, high blood pressure, or diabetes. Heavy smoking (more than a pack a day) can also be a significant risk factor (see the nearby sidebar for more on smoking’s impact on your health). Even though heart disease is rare in young adults, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is in its early stages in this age bracket and may progress rapidly. Long-term studies show that high blood cholesterol in young adulthood predicts a higher rate of premature heart disease in middle age.