Obviously there are more than 10 habits that cause heart problems. But this articles will quickly review the causes of heart problems. Cardiovascular disease is the leading universal cause of death, it accounted for approximately 17.6 million deaths in the year 2016, and the number of deaths has been increasing exponentially. Moreover, stroke and CVD accounted for 14% of total health expenditures in 2014-2015.
These are the top 10 habits that cause heart problems;
Sitting all-day
People who spend their whole day sitting are at a higher risk of experiencing heart problems in the future. Surprisingly even if you exercise every day but spend rest of your day sitting, the exercise you did goes down the vain.
Irregular sleeping patterns
The more sleep you get, the better? Myth! People who sleep more than 10 hours a day increase their risk to heart diseases by 41 percent. On the contrary, people who sleep less than six hours every day, have greater susceptible to atherosclerosis. Stick to 6-8 hours of sleep every day for a healthy heart!
Over-consumption of Alcohol
Consuming alcohol increases the cholesterol levels in your blood, increased levels of cholesterol hardens the arteries decreasing the plasticity of the arteries. Over-consumption causes raise in blood pressure, obesity, and chances of stroke. Women are recommended to limit their consumption to one drink a day whereas for men, permissible limit is one to two drinks.
Stressing out
Stress releases the hormone adrenaline, which is also known as the fight or flight hormone, it causes the heart rate to increase, resulting in high blood pressure. Sustained high blood pressure would damage blood vessels increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Not maintaining dental hygiene
Gum disease and heart disease are strongly linked. Although the precise reason is unknown, but one concept is that the accumulation of plaque causes inflammation, as the bacteria causing gum disease assists inflammation, which is the prime cause of atherosclerosis. The simple solution to avoid this is to brush and floss daily!
Smoking or living with a smoker
Cigarettes and vape consist of nicotine, both of these have detrimental effects on the body. Nicotine constricts the arteries, and in the long run, the arteries start to harden. Along with plaque buildup and hardened arteries, the chances of having a heart attack significantly increases.
Overdoing it on salt
Increased consumption of salt results in higher blood pressure. Hidden salts are the major issue these days, processed foods including, soups, canned vegetables, frozen food, chips, and other salty snacks consist of most of the salt. The recommended sodium intake is below 2,300 milligrams a day. In case of high blood pressure or if a person is over 50, they should cut back to 1,500 milligrams.
Unhealthy weight
Carrying extra pounds, specifically around the belly, acts as a stressor and results in heart problems as well as diabetes. It’s a cause of concern if women have a waist more than 35 inches and 40 inches for men.
Inappropriate Dietary habits
“You are what you eat!” Food plays an important role in determining your health.
Eating fried foods, not getting enough water or magnesium, using artificial sweeteners or diet sodas, consuming a large portion of red meat and over-eating, all of these habits contribute to an unhealthy heart.
Dodging your mental health
When you’re feeling low, it’s difficult to motivate yourself to eat right or exercise. If you’ve been feeling down and emotionally exhausted for over weeks now, it’s time to reach out to friends and family or a health professional. People with stronger connections to friends, family, and society usually live longer and have healthier lives.