96.9k views
1 vote
How are the causes of adult vs child cardiac often different?

1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

The causes of cardiac problems in adults often include lifestyle factors and age-related changes, such as obesity and atherosclerosis, leading to Coronary Heart Disease. In contrast, children's heart issues are more commonly due to congenital defects like cardiac hypertrophy. The LGBT community may have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases due to various social and healthcare barriers.

Step-by-step explanation:

The causes of cardiac issues in adults differ significantly from those in children, largely due to lifestyle-related factors, the aging process, and different disease mechanisms. In adults, risk factors such as obesity and overweight increase the likelihood of a fatal heart attack threefold compared to those with normal weight. As people reach middle age, their heart walls may thicken to compensate for stiffer blood vessels, and changes in the heart's chambers and valves also occur. These age-related changes pose a further risk as the heart's ability to adapt to physical activity or stress diminishes over time.

Unlike adults, children's heart problems are often related to congenital defects or abnormal development, such as cardiac hypertrophy, where the heart thickens and weakens, leading to heart failure. Coronary Heart Disease, primarily due to atherosclerosis, is a leading cause of adult cardiac issues and may result in a heart attack if blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, causing irreversible damage to the cardiac muscle cells.

Certain demographic groups, such as the LGBT community, may face a higher risk for heart disease due to social and healthcare-related challenges. Key modifiable risk factors in adults include hypertension, smoking, and diabetes, whereas congenital factors are more common in children.

User Tanya
by
7.4k points