Lifestyle habits that steadily increase risk for heart

Human heart is susceptible to a number of diseases that eventually affect the way it functions.


The heart is damaged due to several factors, few important ones of which are not biological in nature; they are purely lifestyle driven.


Here are certain lifestyle habits that gradually weaken the heart without giving any warning sign.

It might seem to us as a few extra kilos but health experts say those weight you carry with you harms your heart.


Being overweight around the belly region is a serious risk factor for the heart.


"Carrying extra pounds, especially around the belly, strains the heart and tips you toward diabetes. If you are overweight, losing just 5% to 10% of your starting weight can make a big difference in your blood pressure and blood sugar," a Harvard report says.

Exercises come next to an ideal weight in keeping the heart health perfect.


As per a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), current global estimates show one in four adults and 81% of adolescents do not do enough physical activity. The report also shows how the number of non-communicable diseases like heart attack, blood pressure are likely to increase between 2020 and 2030.


Being inactive leads to fatty build up in the arteries which subsequently disrupts the flow of blood and hence leads to heart attack.

Liver has a direct connection with heart health. An abnormal buildup of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol may greatly increase the risk of heart failure, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions.


Studying the national health survey data from 2005 to 2018 the researchers found that people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who were older, male or who had diabetes or coronary heart disease were at particularly higher risk for heart failure.


To take care of the liver you need to eliminate processed foods, beverages and salt from the diet and consume seasonal fruits and vegetables, protein and unsaturated fats.

A major healthy lifestyle deviation is caused by overconsumption of alcohol and tobacco.


"Alcohol intake of three or more drinks per day and cigarette smoking share similar, and probably additive, adverse effects on some forms of cardiovascular disease," a 2006 research study says adding that adverse effects include increases in blood pressure and levels of triglycerides in the blood and higher risks of stroke and congestive heart failure.

Though you might be using less salt while cooking, you also need to be careful about the hidden salts you consume through processed foods.


"The WHO recommends not to consume more than 5 grams of salt every day, which is roughly half of what on average people consume in the world. You can get salt from what you add to foods at home, or you can get salt from the manufacture of products," says Dr Francesco Branca, the Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development in the World Health Organization, Geneva. In a recent episode of Science in 5, he explained that most of the salt that we consume comes from processed foods and has urged people to cut down the intake of salt in order to keep the body healthy.

​How Do We Know We Are Consuming Too Much Salt? WHO Expert Explains​