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Men are at a much higher risk of heart attacks than women earlier in life, a new study reveals.

Researchers at Northwestern University found that men start to develop coronary heart disease years earlier than women, with differences emerging as early as the mid-30s, according to a press release.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), analyzed data from more than 5,000 adults, aged 18 to 30, from the mid-1980s through 2020, as part of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) analysis.

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Men reached a 5% incidence of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke and heart failure, at around 50 years old compared to 57 for women.

Coronary heart disease, which is when blood vessels that supply the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked, was the main driver of the difference, as men reached a 2% incidence more than a decade before women. Stroke and heart failure emerged later in life.

Men’s risk began rising faster at around age 35 and remained high throughout midlife, according to the research. Everyone in the study was under 65 years old at the last follow-up. 

Current guidelines generally recommend cardiovascular risk assessment beginning around age 40, which some experts say may miss an important window for early prevention.

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Heart disease develops over decades, with early markers detectable in young adulthood, according to senior study author Alexa Freedman, assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“Our findings highlight the importance of promoting heart health screening and prevention in young adulthood, especially for young men,” Freedman told Fox News Digital.

The researchers emphasized the importance of looking beyond standard measures of heart risk, like cholesterol or blood pressure, and considering a “broader range of biological and social factors.”

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Dr. Andrew Freeman, cardiologist and director of clinical cardiology at National Jewish Health in Denver, was not involved in the study but commented on the findings.

“We have always known that men tend to manifest and typically die earlier from things like heart attacks and strokes compared to women,” he told Fox News Digital.

Although the study did not identify why more men are predisposed to heart issues than women, Freeman said factors like hormonal differences, diet and physical activity could come into play. 

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“The standard American lifestyle makes us all sick, and then men seem to be more prone to developing this disease earlier,” the cardiologist told Fox News Digital. 

“We are more exposed to toxins than ever before in virtually every part of our food supply,” he added. “We already know well that air pollution, light pollution and sound pollution are all associated with earlier heart disease.”

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Americans are also more sedentary, get less sleep, are more stressed and are less socially connected, all of which can increase cardiovascular diseases, Freeman added.

“I think this study is really underscoring that it’s time for some big changes,” he said.

The doctor shared the following five “healthspan” tips to help prevent heart health issues.

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1. Limit toxin exposure in the form of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, nicotine and air pollution
2. Eat a predominately low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet
3. Exercise regularly, ideally 20 to 30 minutes every day at a level of breathlessness (with sign-off from a doctor)
4. Partake in stress-relieving activities and mindfulness exercises
5. Get adequate, uninterrupted sleep
6. Cultivate a strong support network of friends and family

“We need to do everything we can to clean up our lifestyles and reduce our disease burden.”

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Freeman also recommends addressing any comorbidities, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity.

Those at a higher risk of cardiovascular events may want to consider earlier screening, although Freeman suggested that early prevention efforts should apply to everyone.

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“Coronary disease is manifesting earlier than ever here in the U.S., and we need to do everything we can to clean up our lifestyles and reduce our disease burden,” he said. “If you’re a man, you’ve got to be extra aggressive earlier in life.”

Weight loss can be highly dependent on each individual’s habits and relationship with food.

With this in mind, new research from City St. George’s, University of London, found that categorizing people into “eating profiles” can help people achieve lasting results.

The study was based on an online quiz developed by the university, which led participants through 17 questions asking about their behavioral habits regarding emotional eating, dieting and exercise.

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Quiz-takers were grouped into four profiles, or phenotypes, based on their responses: Purple Lavender, Red Chili, Yellow Saffron and Green Sage.

The quiz then offered tailored advice for building a healthier long-term lifestyle, including how to stick to personal goals, improve dietary choices and incorporate more movement.

The U.K. study participants were enrolled in a 12-week digital weight-loss program, in addition to seven weeks of tailored advice.

Those who took the quiz and identified with a profile showed “significant” engagement in the 12-week program compared to those who did not. They were also more likely to stick to it, according to the university.

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Quiz-takers also recorded more meals, communicated with health coaches more frequently and lost more weight on average.

“Phenotype-tailored weekly advice was associated with substantially higher engagement in a real-world digital program, although short-term weight differences were not statistically significant,” the authors concluded in the study, which was published in JMIR Formative Research.

Although the study was not randomized, followed participants for only a short time and relied on self-reported weight, the results suggest that adjusting digital weight-loss programs based on how people typically eat and behave could help more users stick with them, the researchers said.

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Larger, randomized trials with longer follow-ups are “warranted to determine whether increased engagement translates into clinically meaningful weight loss,” they added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.

Breaking down the 4 eating profiles

According to the researchers, “Red Chili” is characterized by “high maladaptive and hedonic eating, low self-regulation and high psychological avoidance.”

This means Red Chili members may feel their eating is out of control, use food to cope with negative emotions, feel guilty about their eating habits and tend to ignore problems. This group also tends to follow restrictive diets, but then overeats when it doesn’t pan out.

“Yellow Saffron” is based on “high hedonic eating and reward reactivity and low maladaptive eating.”

These individuals may find it difficult to resist overeating, choose foods based on taste rather than health benefits, and frequently crave foods high in calories, fat and sugar.

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“Purple Lavender” represented “low self-regulation and high psychological avoidance, as well as low maladaptive and hedonic eating.”

This group tends to set goals and pursue them temporarily, but may give up upon confronting an obstacle. Purple Lavenders may lose enthusiasm after starting to make changes and find it difficult to continue, as well as ignore problems and challenges.

“Green Sage” is characterized in the quiz as “low maladaptive and hedonic eating, high self-regulation and low psychological avoidance.”

“There is no general way of eating that suits each person, because behavior and personality play such a role.”

These individuals often need clear guidance in making positive lifestyle changes, yet put off working toward goals when they lack motivation.

People in Green Sage may tend to not do the recommended amount of physical activity for their health or eat the recommended amount of vegetables for their diet, even if they often cook at home.

Experts weigh in

Los Angeles-based registered dietitian-nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein praised the “really intuitive” quiz.

“It really hits on the emotional and behavioral side of weight loss that people struggle with the most,” the California-based expert told Fox News Digital.

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“It did an amazing job once it identified your eating type, giving you mindset shifts and descriptors on what to work on,” she went on. “It’s no surprise to me that it made a significant difference in the motivation and adherence to the weight-loss plan early on.”

As the results found no significant difference at the seven-week mark, Muhlstein suggested that this means the researchers “have to work on better follow-up measures” to help people stay more consistent.

Certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco added that it “makes sense” to acknowledge habits and behaviors around food to promote weight loss and health goals.

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“Health is an individualized topic. There is no general way of eating that suits each person, because behavior and personality play such a role,” the New York expert told Fox News Digital. 

“Following a generic diet of what to eat and what to avoid doesn’t result in any sort of meaningful change unless personality types, behaviors and habits are addressed.”