The heart works continuously even during sleep. The cardiovascular system is responsible for a smooth blood circulation. It pumps oxygen and nutrients efficiently. Since your heart works regularly, it requires special care for the prevention of heart attack. However, most people follow some bad habits that negatively impact their heart health. In this article, we have jotted down ten bad habits that affect your heart health. So, without any delay, here we go!
10 Bad Habits That Affect Your Heart Health
1. Smoking
Smoking is the worst bad habit that affect heart health. It is a leading cause of heart attacks amongst teenagers and adults. Regular smoking damages your arteries lining which reduces oxygen in the blood. It boosts blood pressure and increases the risk of blood clots. If you are someone exposed to secondhand smoke, the chances of developing heart diseases exists as it impacts your heart negatively. If you smoke regularly, look for help! There are several treatments and medications available for excellent results.
2. Improper diet
Unhealthy food habits lead to plaque buildup in your arteries, increasing heart problems. People who eat packaged foods and sugary drinks are obese. Additionally, their cholesterol levels are higher which causes heart issues. Want to eliminate the risk of heart problems? Its time to switch to a nutrition-rich diet. Your diet must include whole grains and fruits. Limit the intake of sugary beverages and processed foods.
3. Excessive stress
Most people suffering from heart diseases are under a lot of stress. It results in unhealthy coping mechanisms like smoking or overeating. All these habits contribute towards heart issues which become unmanageable. It allows your body to release stress hormones such as cortisol which causes inflammation and increases blood pressure. All of this contributes to heart diseases. You must practice stress reduction everyday. These include meditation and deep breathing exercise. All this ensures you get a proper sleep.
4. Lack of physical activities
It’s another big factor when it comes to bad habits that affect your heart health which is impacted by everyday activities. Therefore, regular exercise is important for a healthy heart. It reduces your blood pressure and controls cholesterol. Further, it ensures that people maintain a healthy weight. It is recommended to people to perform aerobics for 150 minutes per week. You may also do light exercises everyday like:
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Jogging
- Walking
5. Avoiding regular heart health check-ups
One common mistake that most people make is not attending their heart health check-ups routinely. Your heart health goes for a toss because it remains unidentified for a long period of time. Not attending regular checkups and missing screenings results in undiagnosed health problems. It affects your heart health and increases the risk of problems. These include:
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
It is highly recommended to detect and manage these conditions early on to see effective results. You must schedule a heart health checkup at a cardiology and vascular care center every 6 to 8 months for heart attack prevention.
6. Skipping proper sleep
Are you unable to sleep at night properly? Improper sleep leads to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to sleep for at least seven to nine hours at night. Try to maintain a proper sleep routine and establish a comfortable resting space. If you feel difficulty in sleeping, meet the best cardiologist in Charlotte County.
7. Eating processed sugar
Experts say that there is a direct link between eating processed sugar and your heart. Studies prove that people who eat processed sugar have higher chances of experiencing heart diseases. Addiction to sugar results in diabetes which results in heart failure. Thus, you must eliminate processed sugar from your diet to see effective results of the Heart attack treatment in Port Charlotte.
8. Neglecting your mental health
Mental health conditions take a toll on your heart health. These include:
- Chronic stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
These conditions trigger a person to make unhealthy food choices. It impacts the cardiovascular system directly. Thus, you must regularly take measures to treat your mental health. It is recommended to seek support from therapists or talk to a Heart failure doctor in Charlotte County. You may also engage in self-care practices as it promotes mental well-being.
9. Improper hydration
The heart pumps blood within your body. Therefore, keeping it hydrated for smooth functioning is important. The functioning of the heart will be hard if you do not drink enough water. This is because chronic dehydration results in blood thickening. It increases your blood pressure and may develop heart problems. Therefore, the best cardiologist in Charlotte County recommends drinking a minimum of six to eight glasses of water everyday. This will keep your body hydrated.
10. Excessive alcohol consumption
Although moderate alcohol consumption has limited heart benefits, drinking alcohol excessively results in reduced oxygen in the blood, increased blood pressure and develops the risk of blood clots. Some people also suffer from obesity which strains your heart. It is recommended to limit your alcohol consumption. For expert advice, visit the cardiologist Port Charlotte.
Wrapping up
Heart is influenced by your lifestyle habits. What you eat and how you sleep largely impacts your cardiovascular system. Therefore, By recognizing these bad habits that affect your heart health, you can take steps to improve your well-being and prevent heart problems down the road. By taking proactive steps for prevention of heart attack and improving overall well-being is important. Get in touch with Dr Harsh Patel cardiologist to get professional guidance.