For many people, receiving an ADHD diagnosis is the first step toward understanding challenges they may have lived with for years. As more people begin treatment, attention is also turning to how that care can be made as safe as possible.
According to reporting by the Daily Mail, supported by findings from several research groups, experts are now calling for greater focus on heart health before medication is prescribed.
Prevention first
The charity Cardiac Risk In The Young believes patients should be offered an ECG before starting stimulant ADHD medication to help identify previously undiagnosed heart conditions. According to the report, routine heart screening is not currently part of the NHS prescribing process.
The discussion follows research examining whether stimulant medications used to treat ADHD could be associated with cardiovascular problems.
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One study found that older adults faced a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and certain heart rhythm disorders during the first month after beginning treatment.
The Daily Mail also cited research from Sweden suggesting that people with ADHD are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those without the condition.
Diagnoses keep rising
The debate comes as ADHD diagnoses and prescriptions continue to increase across England.
Estimates published in May 2025 suggested that around 2.5 million people in England are living with ADHD, including those who have not yet received a formal diagnosis.
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The report also highlighted a sharp rise in ADHD prescriptions among men aged 18 to 29. According to a doctor quoted by the Daily Mail, the increase may reflect the growing number of adults being referred for ADHD assessments over the past five years.
While researchers continue to study the relationship between ADHD, medication and cardiovascular health, the latest findings have prompted fresh calls for additional screening measures before treatment begins.
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