Beware Of Symptoms Of Heart Disease Can Appear 10 Years Before Being Diagnosed

JAKARTA - So far, you think new signs of heart disease will be visible when cholesterol rises or blood pressure is high. According to the latest study, the signal initially appeared long before that, even 10-12 years before the diagnosis.

Imagine, in your 20s to 30s you are usually active in moving, sometimes exercising, to just walking late in the afternoon. Then slowly, for no apparent reason, physical activity began to decrease. Not because of laziness, but energy decreases, increased activity, or changing routines.

According to a study published in JAMA Cardiology, this decline is not a natural thing, it could be a sign of your heart problem.

The study found signs that people with heart disease, such as heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, had experienced a decrease in moderate to severe physical activity (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity or MVP) about 12 years before the diagnosis.

"More than a decade before conditions worsened, a decline in activity had already occurred," the researcher wrote in the study, quoted from the Times of India website.

In research on more than 3,000 adults who were monitored from the mid-20s to the end of middle age, physical activity decreased over time, that's normal.

However, for those who end up suffering from cardiovascular disease, the decline is sharper and earlier, especially two years before the diagnosis.

The most interesting thing is that this decline occurs long before there are signs of cholesterol or blood pressure problems. This means that the heart actually gives a small signal before major problems arise. This opens up great opportunities to act earlier, improve lifestyles, and prevent further damage.

This study also highlights that the downward trend in different activities in groups with different social and environmental backgrounds. Availability of safe places for sports, costs, work schedules, and community support is a determining factor.

"Not only about will, but also about opportunity," said the researcher.

Heart disease remains the main cause of death in the world. Millions of people live with risk factors, both realized and not.

- High blood pressure? More than 120 million adults experience it.

- High cholesterol? More than 90 million.

-Added diabetes, obesity, smoking habits, stress, and sitting for too long.

Symptoms are often not felt. You may feel fine in your 40s, even though plaque has secretly accumulated in blood vessels. Processed foods, salt and excess sugar, and lack of movement are the main triggers of heart problems.

With a healthy diet, diligently moving, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and quitting smoking, the risk of heart disease can be suppressed.

"The heart is complicated, but the response is fast to healthy habits," experts say.

The point is, you have greater control over heart health by maintaining health from now on, not when you have a stern warning.

Initial Steps You Can Do

1. Physical activity as an Initial Alarm

A consistent and prolonged decline in motion could be an early sign of the burden on the cardiovascular system. Monitoring this decline gives you an early chance of intervention.

2. Keep Moving, Don't Wait For Sickness

The habit of moving from an early age is not only to maintain weight or fitness, but to keep the heart healthy.

3. Targeted Support

Because not everyone has the same opportunity to be active, specific support is needed, such as community-friendly parks, affordable sports classes, and medical advice that fits their respective conditions.

4. Recovery Should Not Be Ignored

After being diagnosed, moving again, although slowly, it is very important. Unfortunately, studies show most people remain below the recommended level of activity.

The heart often gives a gentle warning before giving a stern warning. Decline in energy or daily activity? Maybe that's a signal to hear. So, let's keep moving, not just for today, but for the next tens of years.