Habits that put your heart at risk

The heart is the most important organ 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. 

Here are some of the habits that you should be extra cautious about for they put your heart at risk.

No regular activity

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. 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.

Smoking

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. Reducing your intake may help, but quitting completely is the only constructive solution to this problem.

Stress

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. Some ways to effectively manage stress include meditation, listening to music, journaling and spending time with family or pets.

Junk food

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

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.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/habits-that-put-your-heart-at-risk/photostory/88254439.cms