Nguyen Hoang (34, Cu Chi, HCMC), is an eatery owner. He frequently stays up late at night, smokes, eats irregularly, and drinks with customers. At 29, he experienced a mild stroke and was warned about high blood pressure but dismissed it, thinking he was young and didn’t need medication.

In May 2022, at 31, after a long workday and a late-night shower, Hoang felt exhausted and dizzy, resting in his room. The next morning, he woke with his right side completely paralyzed, unable to speak, and barely conscious. 

His family rushed him to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed an ischemic stroke and said he had missed the golden time window for thrombolytic treatment. After emergency treatment, Hoang survived but with severe after effects: half his body paralyzed, he is heavily reliant on family.

“For nearly three years, I’ve undergone rehabilitation exercises, costing tens of millions VND monthly, but my conditions have been improved by only 60 percent. I regret not prioritizing my health when young,” Hoang said. His greatest wish now is to work again, support his wife and children, and not burden his family.

Another case is T.Q.K., 33, from Cam Pha, Quang Ninh, who was taken to Cam Pha regional general hospital on the morning of August 21 in a state of severe chest pain and shortness of breath while working. 

Before that, he had been healthy with no medical history. At the hospital, an ECG showed he was suffering from an acute inferior myocardial infarction. Doctors consulted cardiology experts at Quang Ninh provincial general hospital via telemedicine and arranged for an urgent transfer to a higher-tier hospital.

There, a coronary angiogram revealed a complete blockage in the second segment of the right coronary artery. The medical team placed a stent to restore blood flow, helping him escape a critical condition.

Reports from hospitals nationwide showed a 10.5 percent rate of young people with myocardial infarction, with 1.8 percent under 35. These alarming figures highlight the concerning trend of cardiovascular diseases affecting younger populations.

Young people with multiple elderly diseases

Associate Prof Do Van Dung, former Head of Public Health at HCMC University of Medicine and Pharmacy, noted that chronic diseases like myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes are rising rapidly and appearing up to 20 years earlier. Once common in those over 50, these conditions now affect people in their 30s, sometimes with 2-3 diseases simultaneously.

Many young people are complacent, failing to recognize early symptoms. When severe complications arise, treatment is often too late, causing serious health and financial consequences. Young people with chronic diseases contribute less to society and also burden families and the healthcare system.

Dung attributes this phenomenon to unhealthy lifestyles: smoking and alcohol abuse, diets high in processed foods, fried items, sugar, and fat. Overweight and obesity are initial triggers, increasing risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even cancer.

Many people think they are still young so often neglect their health, focus on making money or drinking alcohol, stay up late without control, and do not have regular health check-ups or only go to the hospital when unusual symptoms appear.

Dung urges young people to change their lifestyles, such as quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, which are key to protecting cardiovascular and brain health.

He recommends a healthy diet with less animal fats and more vegetables, fruits, and fish, and at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

Regular health check-ups to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol for early detection, along with sufficient sleep and stress management, are vital for overall health.

Do Van Dung stresses that heart attacks and strokes don’t just occur in the elderly. Even healthy young people risk sudden death if complacent. If symptoms like severe chest pain or partial paralysis occur, people should seek hospital care immediately, as it could be a life-threatening emergency.

According to General Statistics Office, in 2024, the average life expectancy of Vietnamese people rose to 74.7 years, up 0.2 years from the previous year (compared to the global average of 73.4 years in 2023, meaning Vietnamese life expectancy exceeds the world average). 

Over the last 80 years, Vietnamese life expectancy has increased by about 37 years.

Phuong Thuy