Heart Disease Becomes A Threat Of The Young Generation, Doctors Remind Early Symptoms And The Importance Of Early Detection

Dr. dr. Faris Basalamah, SpJP(K), a specialist in cardiac and electrophysics intervention (Adelia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Heart disease, which has been known as a degenerative disease in the elderly, is now showing an alarming trend, namely that more and more young people experience it. In Indonesia, the burden of cardiovascular disease is very large.

Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Health in 2024, more than 651,000 deaths are recorded every year due to this disease, with details of stroke reaching 331,349 cases, propose heart disease as many as 245,343 cases, and hypertension accompanied by heart complications as many as 50,620 cases.

These figures indicate that heart disease can no longer be seen as just an individual problem, but a public health crisis that must be faced.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also noted that more than 17 million people worldwide die from heart disease and blood vessels every year. This makes heart disease the number one killer globally.

Early symptoms of heart disease are often not realized or ignored because they are considered normal fatigue. According to Dr. dr. Faris Basalamah, SpJP(K), a specialist in heart intervention and electrophysicology as well as Director of Heartology Cardiovascular Hospital, early signs can appear smoothly.

"Before the heart attack, its characteristics were a decrease in the functional capacity, usually running and climbing stairs on a fine-fine busway, then suddenly drinking," said Dr. Faris, when met on Jl. MH Thamrin, Jakarta on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Even daily activities such as short-distance or sexual intercourse can be felt and cause discomfort that was previously felt.

Other symptoms that should be watched out for include chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. If left unchecked, this condition can develop into sudden heart attacks that have the potential to be fatal.

One of the main factors that increase cases of heart disease at a young age is an unhealthy lifestyle.

"The main factor is usually because of high cholesterol, food too, and certain genetic factors. Even though he is thin and doesn't eat much fat, the levels of the cholesterol are high, it's risky," said Dr. Faris.

In addition, obesity, lack of physical activity, consumption of high- sugar foods, and smoking habits, including the use of vape, are the main risk factors.

"The obesity, lifestyle lacks movement, smoking or vaping are both the causes. Then sweet foods make diabetes triggerten heart disease," added dr. Faris.

What is even more worrying is that high levels of cholesterol have begun to be found from the age of 20 to 30 years. In fact, high cholesterol is the main trigger for narrowing blood vessels which leads totenuic heart disease.

In dealing with this situation, early detection is an important step that cannot be delayed. Control screening, blood pressure examination, and lifestyle evaluation need to be done regularly even at a young age.

"That's why it's important to do screening, controlling is overcome by exercising, maintaining a diet, taking medicines to maintain cholesterol levels," explained Dr. Faris.

Awareness of the importance of prevention is also a focus in the 2025 CARES annual scientific conference (Cardiac & Vascular Excellence Scientific Update) held by Heartology Cardiovascular Hospital. This event brought together cardiologists, torac surgery, to general practitioners in a series of interactive workshops and workshops.

"One of the biggest challenges in the current treatment of heart disease is the gap between theory and clinical practice. Through CARES 2025, we tried to bridge it by providing space for participants to convey and discuss real cases of their experience in the field," said Chairman of the 2025 CARES Committee, dr. Adrianus Kosasih, Sp.JP(K).

This event is not only a place for professional education, but also a means of collaboration to improve the quality of cardiovascular handling in Indonesia. With the presence of more than 300 camping participants and 165 workshop participants, CARES 2025 is proof that handling heart disease requires synergy from all lines.