ACS Q&A – Dr. Walton: Can Teenagers Have Heart Attacks?

Teenagers typically do not develop the type of coronary artery disease that we commonly see in older adults. However, people sometimes use the term “heart attack” very broadly. It’s important to understand that there are different types of heart-related emergencies.

In younger people, there can be conditions that lead to sudden cardiac death. These are often caused by electrical problems within the heart that may be congenital or related to other underlying heart conditions. These problems can cause the heart to suddenly stop functioning.

This is different from what cardiologists typically mean by a heart attack (or myocardial infarction), which occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked by a clogged artery.

Some of the conditions that cause sudden cardiac death may be congenital while others can develop over time. We also worry about the effects of drug use because it can have serious and potentially catastrophic effects on the heart, even in young people.