Parenthood May Take a Toll on Men's Heart Health

Key Points

• A recent study found fathers may have more risk factors for heart disease than men without kids, especially if they became parents before age 25.
• Conversely, research also found dads tend to have a lower risk of death and fewer depressive symptoms than non-parents.
• Scientists say the results could speak to how stressful the transition to fatherhood can be and the protective effects of a strong social support network.

There is no 7-second trick to prevent heart attack, but there are factors that can increase poor heart health—such as being a father. Yes, if you're a dad, there's a higher chance you'll experience poor heart health later in life compared to men who never procreated.

There is a bright side, though.

Dads also tend to have lower death rates.

How are dads shaping up on the heart front?

Researchers evaluated data from 2,814 men ages 45 to 84 who self-identified as Asian, Black, Hispanic or white in a 2024 study. They assessed participants' cardiovascular health (CVH) based on factors such as diet, physical activity, weight, blood pressure, smoking habits, cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

They determined that fathers tend to have slightly worse CVH scores than men without children. However, they also found dads have a lower age-adjusted mortality rate compared to men who weren't fathers.

"This paradoxical outcome could be attributable to several factors," said Chris Davis, M.D. chief cardiologist at Humann, based in Sarasota, Florida. He was not involved in the study.

Davis explained that the social and emotional support derived from fatherhood may mitigate some of the adverse health effects associated with poor cardiovascular health scores. Research shows social connections are essential for health, and having a robust support system is linked to better longevity.

"Also, fathers may adopt healthier behaviors or seek medical care more promptly due to their role as caregivers, thereby reducing their risk of cardiovascular events and mortality," he added. "Moreover, dads might adopt healthier behaviors or seek medical care more promptly if they feel their health is in jeopardy due to their role as caregivers, which could reduce their risk of death."

For example, they may start eating a more heart-friendly diet if they are already living with heart disease, which, along with medications, may help to manage the condition.

"Children may also help their parents attend medical appointments and manage medications and treatments as they age," said John James Parker, M.D., one of the study's authors and a physician and assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, in a news release.

Parker and his colleagues noted that mental health may offer some protective benefits for dads, too, as their study indicates that fathers tend to have fewer depressive symptoms than men without kids.

"The study also suggests fatherhood is especially beneficial for Black men," Parker said. "Though it's unclear why. It may be that fatherhood encourages Black men to maintain a healthy lifestyle."

"The more robust social networks associated with fatherhood could be important to Black fathers as well," Davis said, "as they're often more affected by other social determinants of health such as economic stability, physical environment, and access to quality healthcare."

Do younger fathers suffer poorer health than older dads?

Researchers noted that having children at age 25 or younger may counter some of the protective benefits of fatherhood for men of all racial and ethnic groups.

Men who had children in their teens or early 20s had slightly higher death rates and worse heart health than those who had kids later. The difference was especially stark among Black and Hispanic men.

Researchers revealed various factors that could explain young dads' poor health.

"For one, young fathers may be less financially stable and have lower-paying jobs with fewer benefits and less time off—which makes it harder to stay healthy," Parker said.

Although many public health interventions focus on young mothers, young fathers should also be a priority, researchers said.

"A lot of times, we focus on the health of mothers and children, and we don't even think of fathers," Parker said. "To improve the health of families, we need to consider the multi-directional relationship among mothers, fathers, other caregivers and children."

According to the study authors, the difference in CVH scores between dads and men who have not had children was statistically significant.

"It's unclear if it correlates with a meaningful difference in cardiovascular outcomes, including heart attacks or cardiac arrests," said Vignesh Raghunath, M.D., a cardiologist with Atlantic Health System in Morristown, New Jersey, who wasn't involved in the study.

Nonetheless, he agreed the research highlights an area that merits further investigation.

"We need to examine the socioeconomic and racial/ethnic factors affecting cardiovascular disease in order to support communities with higher rates of cardiovascular disease," he said.

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Why do dads have poor heart health?

"The added responsibility of childcare and the stress of transitioning to fatherhood may make it difficult for some dads to maintain a healthy lifestyle conducive to preventing heart disease," Parker said.

"Factors such as decreased physical activity, substandard dietary choices, poor sleep habits and greater psycho-emotional stressors that often result in habits such as smoking and alcohol abuse contribute to poorer cardiovascular health among fathers," Davis said. "These lifestyle changes and stressors associated with parenting can exacerbate cardiovascular disease risk factors, leading to worse heart health outcomes."

He added that it's not uncommon to see new dads in their 30s or 40s presenting with anxiety, depression, insomnia, hypertension and palpitation symptoms—all of which are physiologic manifestations of elevated stress.

"There is an abundance of research that confirms the relationship between elevated stress hormones, heart attacks and other cardiovascular conditions like arrhythmias," Davis said.

Additionally, the study found dads were more likely to be smokers than men without kids, a finding that contradicts other research suggesting men tend to quit smoking when they have children.

"Because the study looked at older fathers, it's possible that some may have kicked the habit when they became dads, then took it up again later due to stress," Parker said. "Either way, more research is needed since smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and preventable death."

What can men do to improve their heart health?

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to a 2019 report published by the American Heart Association (AHA), more than half of American adults have some form of cardiovascular disease.

If you're wondering how to improve vascular health, understanding heart disease basics is an important place to start.

One dangerous heart disease myth is that it only affects older people and those who are overweight or obese. The condition can affect people of all sizes and ages, and your habits now can affect your heart for decades.

"Being proactive about your health and talking to your healthcare provider about your individual cardiovascular disease risk factors is one of the best ways to protect yourself," Raghunath said.

Davis and Raghunath suggested other ways to minimize risk:

• Don't smoke cigarettes, cigars or vape.
• Eat a healthy diet as defined by the American Heart Association.
• Know the signs of heart disease and seek help promptly.
• Maintain a healthy blood pressure of less than 120/80.
• Maintain a healthy weight based on your body type.
• Maintain strong social connections.
• Manage stress.
• Prioritize sleep.
• Regularly screen for risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol.
• Strive for at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week.
• Take care of your mental health, as depressive disorders are a risk factor for heart disease.

The bottom line

Whatever your age, parental status or current lifestyle, heart health needs to begin right now.

Take some time today to schedule a physical with your healthcare provider to better understand your heart disease risk factors and what you can do to improve your health now and in the future.