Why do people in their 30s have high cholesterol and diabetes?

Specialist Doctor 1 Nguyen Nguyen Tran, General Internal Medicine Doctor, General Examination Department, Phuong Nam Hospital - Member of Phuong Chau Medical Group, answers: In the past, people often said "high blood fat and diabetes are for the elderly". But now, many people in their early 30s have to take medicine to lower blood fat, control blood sugar or treat fatty liver. Chronic diseases are getting younger faster than ever and are really a health issue that everyone should be concerned about, not just middle-aged people.

Reasons why young people today are susceptible to high blood fat

Unhealthy diet : Fast food, fried foods, greasy foods, butter, cheese or animal organs - all increase saturated fat in the body. In addition, alcohol, soft drinks, milk tea... if consumed regularly will make blood lipids more easily disturbed.

Sedentary lifestyle : Office work, sitting for long periods, and little exercise cause excess energy to not be burned, and fat to easily accumulate in the blood and liver.

Overweight, obesity : When weight exceeds the ideal level (based on BMI), bad cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides increase, while good cholesterol (HDL-C) decreases - this is the reason why the heart and blood vessels are vulnerable to early damage.

Genetic factors : Some people carry a genetic mutation that causes the body to overproduce or not eliminate bad cholesterol – called familial hyperlipidemia. This condition can appear at a very young age.

Underlying medical conditions : People with diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or hypothyroidism often have metabolic disorders, causing blood lipids to be higher than normal.

Vì sao ngoài 30 tuổi đã bị mỡ máu cao, đái tháo đường? - Ảnh 1. — Doctor consulting a young patient

Regular health check-ups help detect silent "alarms" early: High blood fat often has no obvious symptoms, so many young people only discover it when they go for regular health check-ups. A few may feel tired, dizzy, nauseous or have small yellow spots around the eyelids or elbows - signs that the body is "alarming" blood fat disorders. The danger is that high blood fat is a silent disease, but can lead to heart disease, stroke, fatty liver or acute pancreatitis if left uncontrolled for a long time.

Therefore, you should not wait until symptoms appear to go to the doctor, but need to have regular blood tests to detect early and protect cardiovascular health. In particular, if someone in the family has had high blood fat or cardiovascular disease, you should proactively check earlier. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe additional lipid-lowering drugs combined with lifestyle adjustments for better control.

A healthy lifestyle is the key

Lifestyle changes are important. Eat healthier, limit fried foods, red meat, and organ meats; increase green vegetables, fish, whole grains, and nuts. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day and maintain a stable weight. Avoid alcohol and tobacco and get enough sleep.

Nowadays, chronic diseases such as high blood fat, diabetes, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease are rapidly getting younger. Regular health check-ups not only help detect potential metabolic disorders early, but also help you adjust your lifestyle and protect your long-term health.