Could These Daily Habits Be Increasing Your Risk Of Heart Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a very common condition. There are many seemingly harmless everyday habits that might also be leading to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Here are some of the most common daily habits that might be standing in your way of a healthy and happy heart.

You don’t take care of your teeth
Poor dental hygiene is a surprising cause of heart diseases. Taking care of your teeth and gums not only leaves you with pearly white teeth, but also keeps your heart healthy. According to research, there is a link between cardiac risks and dental hygiene. This is because when gums are inflamed, bacteria enter the blood vessels, which then travel to the coronary area. This narrows the passages, leading to lesser blood flow.

You tend to bottle up your emotions
If you are feeling depressed, hostile or stressed, it could take a toll on your heart’s health. It is not uncommon for all of us to feel these emotions at some point in our lives, but it is how you handle them that makes all the difference. If you tend to bottle up or internalize stress, you may be in grave danger. Laughter and social support have been clinically proven to positively affect for stress and heart health.

You spend hours on the couch in front of your television set
Sometimes you just want to block out the world and become a couch potato, but if this becomes a daily habit, it could start to affect your heart. Sitting for hours at a stretch can increase your risk of heart attack and stroke, even if you exercise on a regular basis. The lack of movement is not compensated by intermittent exercise. This sedentary position affects blood levels of sugars and fats. If you must laze on your couch, at least get up and walk around every now and then.

You have an erratic sleep schedule
You may be at risk of a heart disease if you have an erratic sleep schedule. Sleeping less than five hours or more than nine hours a night may have an adverse affect on your heart health, because both extremes affect your levels of stress hormones and blood pressure.

You snore
Snoring, while annoying for your sleeping partner, may be a sign of a more serious condition – obstructive sleep apnea. This disorder, marked by breathing that is interrupted during sleep, has been known to cause blood pressure to shoot up when you are snoring in your sleep. You should consult your doctor immediately if you sleep regular hours but wake up feeling lethargic and tired.

Your exercise routine isn’t consistent
If you feel particularly motivated to exercise on a Monday morning, but then through the week, your motivation seems to dwindle, you are setting yourself up for heart damage. If you work out inconsistently, say by exercising rigorous one day and then taking the next week of because you have overstressed yourself, it could be bad for your heart health. The best thing to do would be to aim for a routine that is slow and steady so that your heart can get accustomed to the physical exertion and be able to adapt accordingly.

You tend to have too many cocktails
While getting belligerent once in a while on an occasion is completely acceptable, if you make it a regular feature, you will put yourself at risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, and high level of blood fats. If you have to drink socially, make sure you have just one drink a day.

You find yourself binge eating very often
One of the main risk factors for heart disease is excess weight. If you add binge eating to the equation, your heart is sure to suffer. Many people tend to overeat when they are stressed, bored or emotional, but it is in your heart’s best interest to stick to small portions.

You procrastinate on visiting the doctor for regular checkups
Just because you aren’t showing symptoms of heart disease, that doesn’t mean you are absolutely safe. Heart conditions have a nasty way of creeping up on you and affect just about anyone. The best way to stay safe is to visit your doctor for regular checkups and keep you weight, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking in check.

You tend to withdraw from the world
On some days, you feel you just want to shut out everyone and everything and go into your shell. That is fine once in a while, but if you make it a habit, it will manifest in some way or the other, most likely in the form of your health. People who have stronger ties with friends, family and society in general tend to live healthier, more fulfilled, longer lives. While it is important to have alone time every so often, reaching out to others and keeping in touch is equally important.

Vishal Ingole  in http://www.lifehacker.co.in

Natarajan