Heart disease is a threat to everyone, old and young.

About six million Americans are living with heart issues, which is why it’s crucial to recognize the signs of failure early and check with your doctor to make sure your primary blood-pumping organ is in check.

Young people, especially young African Americans, tend to be affected by heart disease more than any other demographic. Heart failure happens when your heart no longer effectively pumps blood to the rest of your body. Despite medical advancements, researchers are saying that the number of people dying from heart failure has actually increased over the last few years.

Angela Kennedy-Lovett is a mother who lost her 35-year-old son, Danny, to heart failure in 2016. “I really thought heart failure was for old people,” said Kennedy-Lovett. “We didn’t know he was sick,” she said.

Kennedy-Lovett says she frequently wonders if a doctor’s visit could have saved his life. “What signs did I miss?” she asked. “You kind of blame yourself for not knowing.”

Researchers from Northwestern University looked over death certificates from the last decade. This is how they found heart failure deaths trended upward in 2017, especially for Americans under 65. Dr. Nasir Sulemanjee says this is most likely due to the fact that Americans are becoming unhealthier. 93 million Americans are obese and another 30 million live with diabetes.

Dr. Sulemanjee says, “This is a national health emergency that we need to address this issue.”

The study also found that black men under age 65 are the most likely to suffer from heart disease. Dr. Sulemanjee says this can be attributed to socio-economic difficulties and lack of proper healthcare.

Both Dr. Sulemanjee and Kennedy-Lovett are encouraging young people to go get regular doctor’s checkups to make sure they’re healthy. Shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling can also be signs of heart deficiencies. If you get in touch with your local healthcare provider, they can link you up with a cardiologist.