Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack

For over 20 years, cardiovascular diseases have been the most common cause of death in Ukraine, and nothing has changed in this regard. While many people claim that health is the most important thing for them, many of them more or less consciously ignore health problems and do not care about their heart. Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, or other habits can significantly weaken the most important organ in the body and lead to atherosclerosis, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases. How can you avoid this?

Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack: Inappropriate oral hygiene

Many people may be surprised by the fact that heart and circulatory system function is affected by … neglect of oral hygiene! Brushing your teeth too often and not flossing can lead to plaque build-up and bacteria growth that negatively affects the entire body. They can cause general inflammation, which contributes to endothelial dysfunction and destruction of blood vessels. This, in turn, increases the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack: Lack of sleep

It is widely known that adequate rest is essential for the body to carry out numerous biological processes and repair itself. Therefore, you should sleep 7–8 hours. Meanwhile, some sleep at night, sit late in front of the TV, computer or telephone, and sometimes sleep only 4–5 hours. It is worth knowing that a lack of sleep can stress the body and lead to hormonal imbalances, which contributes to the occurrence of arrhythmias and other problems with the cardiovascular system. People who do not get enough sleep have an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack: Ignoring snoring

Snoring is another risk factor for heart disease. Cardiologists warn that this could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that causes sudden surges in blood pressure.

Therefore, this condition can contribute to the development of coronary heart disease. Therefore, you should not underestimate snoring and find out its causes.

Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack: Lack of exercise and obesity

A fatal habit in the 21st century is lack of exercise and regular exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can negatively impact fat and blood sugar levels and lead to overweight and obesity. It also promotes the consumption of unhealthy foods such as prepared foods, sweets, and foods rich in flour and saturated fat. Over time, these habits lead to serious circulatory problems. Excess body fat produces substances that cause inflammation. This increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Therefore, you should take care of regular physical activity – this can be walking, cycling or rollerblading, jogging, swimming. Exercise intensity should be introduced gradually because hard training at the start of your sporting adventure can lead to irregular heart rhythms and increase your risk of heart attack.

Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack: Excess salt and unhealthy diets

An unhealthy diet is also harmful to the heart and circulatory system, especially excessive salt intake. It is a rich source of sodium, which is essential for the body to function properly, but too much sodium is detrimental to health. It is responsible for regulating the osmotic pressure of body fluids, so too high a concentration contributes to an increase in blood pressure, water retention in the body and edema.

The recommended daily sodium intake is about 2,000 mg per day, which is a flat teaspoon of salt (5-6 g). Meanwhile, the Polish diet is replete with a lot of salt, as it is found in many foods such as ready meals, spices, cheese, cold cuts, chips, sticks or crackers. You should also limit processed foods due to their trans-fat content.

Habits that threaten atherosclerosis and heart attack: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption

Heart function is, of course, influenced by stimulants that affect overall health. Smoking cigarettes leads to thickening of the blood, increased heart rate and increased blood pressure. Hence, it promotes the development of atherosclerosis and causes less oxygen and nutrients to reach the heart.

Smoking one pack of cigarettes a day quadruples your risk of heart attack. Alcohol abuse is also harmful. Many argue that high alcohol drinks lower blood pressure, but unfortunately, this is not entirely true. Yes, alcohol causes a temporary drop in blood pressure, but after about six hours, it rises again to 7 mm Hg. Art. That lasts longer. Regular alcohol consumption strengthens these relationships and increases the risk of high blood pressure.