5 Dangerous Habits for Your Heart Health

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death across the globe. Improving your heart health is more than just swapping a hamburger for a salad and getting out more. There are also things you may be doing every day which are seriously harming your health.

The most dangerous habits for heart health

Smoking

Cigarettes contain harmful ingredients such as nicotine. This increases the risk of heart disease by:

✗ Decreasing the supply of oxygen to the heart,

✗ It damages cells that line blood vessels and coronary arteries,

✗ Increases heart rate and

✗ Increases blood pressure and blood clotting.

Smoking also causes atherosclerosis which is characterized by the build of fat in the arteries. This leads the arteries to deteriorate and it forces the body to use fat in order to thicken the artery walls. Finally resulting in a heart attack.

Excessive alcohol consumption

Heart diseases are one of the most common long term effects of alcohol abuse.

According to some studies drinking in moderation can be beneficial to your heart, but too much of anything can ruin your life. Excessive drinking can cause heart-related diseases such as strokes and high blood pressure.

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead” attitude

Sleeping goes hand in hand with heart health. It allows your body to restart and flush out all the negativity.

Extended sleep deprivation and insomnia can seriously damage your heart, ultimately leading to heart attacks and strokes.

No exercise

A study done at Stanford University found that the best predictor of death is lack of fitness. How fit an individual plays a major role in determining how long a lifespan that individual may have. This improvement in fitness can be achieved through regular aerobic exercise.

For improved heart health consider doing aerobic exercises such as walking and running.

Move your body!

Processed sugar

While natural sugar found in fruit and honey is beneficial to your health, processed sugar is one of the leading causes of heart diseases.

We’re living in a society of processed foods, and if you want to stay healthy you must go against the stream and minimize your processed sugar consumption.

Start with ditching sodas and heavily processed sweets.