Habits that put your heart at risk

The heart is the most important organ of the body. There is a reason it is listed among the ‘vital’ organs of the body. When we put our health first, we often tend to ignore the heart which requires a set of habits and regime that take special care of it; cardio-vascular exercises, low-cholesterol food and a lot many lifestyle changes. Even though most of us may not consciously follow such organ specific regimes, a good diet and regular exercise does the needful without our knowing. It should also be noted that we likewise do not realize how many elements of our lifestyle may cause damage to our heart. Here are some of the habits that you should be extra cautious about for they put your heart at risk.

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There are several reasons why one isn’t as active on a regular basis as one should be. You may not find the right workout regime that keeps you fit and entertained. There can be other reasons like a hyper busy lifestyle that keeps one engaged and drains one out by the end of a day. However, in order to maintain heart health, it is imperative that you stay active regularly and no, we aren’t talking long hours at the gym. Start slow, but do start. Activities as low intensity as walking and that too for a mere twenty minutes can help a great deal with heart health maintenance. Walking, running or playing a sport for just twenty minutes can help greatly with your cardio-vascular health and is associated with lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and a healthier weight.

The advertisements are quite serious when they warn you with a ‘Smoking Kills’ tagline. It actually does a lot of harm and is responsible for one-thirds of the deaths that happen due to poor heart health. Carbon monoxide is a principal element of cigarettes and leads to a reduced healthy blood count and higher cholesterol. Reducing your intake may help, but quitting completely is the only constructive solution to this problem.

Excessive stress from work, family or any other causes can put pressure on the heart and lead to higher levels of cholesterol. It can also lead to damage of arteries and increase the risk of heart attacks by several times. To cope up with stress, people drink, smoke and over eat, all of which lead to further damage to the heart. In order to manage stress effectively, you should exercise, which itself soothes the body and regulates hormones thereby helping the heart. Other ways to effectively manage stress include meditation, listening to music, journaling and spending time with family or pets.

If you work rigorously throughout the week and prefer to have ‘lit’ weekends, there are high chances of you consuming unhealthy, processed foods and dining out too frequently. This is another damaging habit that directly affects risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol. It is advisable to check the menu for nutritional composition of food and eat only what you feel is balanced in terms of nutrition and taste.

Alcohol is one of the major factors that cause heart attacks in people. It triggers the level of triglycerides in the body, an unhealthy form of fat that leads to excessive damage and increased cholesterol. Artery blockage and weight gain are other consequences of drinking too much and moderation is the only solution. Having drinks in moderation is important and exercising in order to mitigate the consequences of it is essential to maintain good heart health.