Scientists discover heart attack risk begins in childhood - they determine the exact age cardiac health nosedives Heart health begins to decline at the age of 10 for children living unhealthy lives, putting them at risk of deadly heart attacks and stroke in adulthood, researchers have warned.
The team assesed each child's diet, physical activity, sleep duration, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and exposure to smoking, such as secondhand smoking which can also increase the risk of heart disease.
Researchers from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute have now pinpointed the crucial age window for protecting yourself against these factors, improving heart health into adulthood.
Using this data they calculated a heart health score, said to indicate the child's risk of a heart attack in later life.
Risk factors for the disease such as high blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar levels, elevated cholesterol, and obesity beginning in childhood.
