Study Finds Men’s Heart Disease Risk Rises Earlier Than Women, Beginning in the Mid Thirties

A new long term study suggests men face an increased risk of heart disease years earlier than women, with the shift beginning as early as their mid thirties.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, followed more than 5,000 people from young adulthood over several decades. Researchers found that men and women shared similar cardiovascular risk levels throughout their twenties. However, a clear gender gap emerged around age 35. By age 50, about five percent of men in the study had developed cardiovascular disease. Women reached the same level of risk nearly seven years later. The difference was even more pronounced when researchers looked specifically at coronary heart disease. Experts say the findings highlight the importance of paying attention to heart health well before middle age. Lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, smoking, stress, and sleep all play a role in long term cardiovascular health. Doctors advise both men and women to monitor their heart health starting in young adulthood. Regular checkups that include blood pressure and cholesterol screenings can help identify early warning signs and reduce the risk of serious heart problems later in life.