3 Habits That Hurt Your Heart Health

You’ve heard all the sage advice on how to keep your heart healthy—diet, exercise, no smoking, less alcohol, etc. But the fact of the matter is about 805,000 people suffer a heart attack each year, and about 695,000 people die from heart disease—in the United States alone! The CDC found that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and is responsible for 1 in every 5 deaths. So these seemingly simple tips aren’t cutting it.

We get it—it’s hard to be healthy. But truthfully, it’s harder to be sick.

First and foremost, you need to know your risk. Some people are genetically predisposed to heart disease and other heart issues, so knowing where you stand can help you make better choices and stay on top of your heart health.

But for the rest of us, we want to shift things a bit and uncover some everyday habits that you probably didn’t know could hurt your heart health. Because when we know better, we can do better.

Not flossing daily.

That’s right. It’s not just your dentist who’s breathing down your neck about flossing anymore. It’s your heart doctor too. Because flossing removes plaque caught between your teeth and gums. When that plaque isn’t removed, it can move throughout your body and build up in your arteries. 

Plaque is essentially a fancy word for bacteria. And when that bacteria from your mouth travels toward your heart, it causes inflammation and infection. Harvard Health found that people with gum disease have two to three times the risk of having a serious cardiovascular event in their lifetime.

We recommend you brush and floss your teeth upon waking, even before you drink your morning cup of water, and every night to keep plaque at bay, boost your immune system, and take care of your heart health.

Too much sitting.

They say sitting is the new smoking. Of course, it’s often necessary. But in the age of work from home and doom scrolling, many of us are sitting way longer than we’re meant to.

Sitting causes our blood flow to slow, which gives your blood vessels the time to build up fatty acids. This means your body will find it harder to break down fats, so it’ll keep building them up and add to the strain on your heart.

Try setting a daily alarm (or a few!) on your phone during peak work hours or during the times you’re usually sitting to remind yourself to get up and stretch or go for a walk to give your body an active break.

Snoring.

It’s not just bothersome. It’s troublesome, too. Well, it can be.

Much of the time, snoring is harmless (except to the ears). But it can also be a sign that you’re experiencing what’s called ‘obstructive sleep apnea’.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to cardiovascular complications, including heart disease, high blood pressure, pulmonary hypertension, and even strokes. 

That’s because OSA causes gaps in breathing which can increase stress on the heart, since the interruptions elevate levels of cortisol and adrenaline in the bloodstream.

At your next visit, you can ask your doctor to screen for OSA and discuss a plan forward if necessary.

Schedule a consultation or your annual check-up.

The easiest change you can make right now to support your heart health is to visit your cardiologist for an annual check-up. Depending on your diagnosis, lifestyle, or symptoms, you may need to visit your cardiologist on a more regular basis.

When you come to see us, we will perform a thorough consultation and educate you on how to best support your heart health. Our team wholeheartedly believes in the power of education as a means to support heart health. As heart care experts, we help our patients work towards improved cardiovascular health and quality of life. Truly, personalized care is the heart of our practice.

Schedule your consultation or check-up online or call us at 281.358.1950.