How often do you think about your cardiac health?
If you are like the average American, you likely don’t give it much thought. However, not paying attention to your heart health has deadly consequences. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one person dying every 36 seconds.
Fortunately, boosting your heart health and reducing your risk of developing heart disease can be as simple as replacing unhealthy habits with healthy ones. If you want to keep your heart healthy and strong but aren’t sure where to start, this short and simple guide is for you.
- Poor Sleep Quality
Did you know there is a connection between the heart and sleep? It’s true, poor sleeping habits can lead to a stroke, heart attack, and heart disease. To avoid this problem, make sure you are getting the recommended amount of sleep every night.
- Sedentary Lifestyle
One of the sedentary lifestyle risks is an increased risk of heart problems. Sitting for a long time can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and even death. To avoid this problem, make sure you exercise regularly and are getting up to move every 30 minutes.
- Unhealthy Eating Habits
Your diet can determine if your heart is healthy or strong or unhealthy and weak. A poor diet filled with processed foods, too much sodium, sugar, and more, can lead to all of the symptoms of heart disease. To avoid this problem, eat a diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats.
- Drinking Too Much
While there are many reasons to cut back on drinking alcohol, protecting your heart is one of the best. Drinking too much leads to all kinds of heart problems, including a stroke, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and high blood pressure. To avoid this problem, limit your drinking to the recommended amounts.
- Smoking
Like alcohol, there are plenty of reasons to stop smoking. Just by smoking, you are increasing your risk of lung cancer, liver cancer, tuberculosis, and even seemingly unrelated conditions like vision loss. However, smoking is also the cause of one out of five deaths related to heart disease.
- Chronic Stress
Stress, especially chronic stress, is a contributing factor to heart disease. Not only does stress cause a physical strain on your body, but it also leads to other unhealthy behaviors, such as drinking, smoking, eating unhealthy foods, and more. To avoid this problem, learn to effectively manage and reduce your stress.
These Are the Habits That Can Compromise Your Cardiac Health
Many bad habits can have a negative effect on your cardiac health.
Some of those habits include not getting quality sleep and eating unhealthy foods. You are also harming your heart by drinking too much and smoking. One of the most common causes of heart disease is the strain of chronic stress.
Avoid these habits and you’ll be well on your way to boosting your heart health.
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