20 Worst Habits For Your Heart

Your heart is the most delicate organ in your body. And remember, your heart works day and night for you. But, once your heart stops beating, it is all over. And yet, most people have the worst habits for heart health.

These bad habits for heart health are working on shortening your life every day. You must live your life to the fullest, but that does not mean you should have unhealthy habits for your heart. The worst habits for your heart are only going to kill you in the long run so why not get rid of them today itself. Men need to be extra careful with regards to their heart health because they are more prone to heart diseases.

WAYS TO KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY

You may still be young and healthy but cultivating the worst habits for heart health will eventually catch up with you before you age. As they say, old habits die hard. If you are a night owl who watches TV till 4 in the morning and then sleeps till 12 noon skipping both breakfast and exercise, then you have many bad habits for your heart. You cannot snap out of these habits in a day when you turn 40.

Here is a list of the worst habits for your heart that you need to quit today.

Being Lazy

Some people are couch potatoes. Once they get back from office and hit the couch, you cannot make them leave the couch even if there is a fire. You need to be active, run around and get things done in order to keep your heart healthy.

Taking Stress

You might say that stress is something we can barely avoid but you are only making excuses. Allowing stress to affect your life is a conscious decision we take. When you take stress, you heart will bear the burden of the stress with you.

Eating Junk Food

We all like to eat empty calories once in a while, so let us not be judgmental. However, if you head towards the fast food counter at lunch hour more than once a week, you are a junk food addict. The trans fats will clog your arteries and give you a heart condition before you are past your prime.

Smoking

Smoking is bad for your heart, your health and for the health of people around you. Smoking increases your pulse rate abnormally and it is enough to give you a mild heart attack when you are under stress.

Adding Extra Salt To Food

Are you one of those people who cannot eat food without sprinkling some extra salt on to it? Salt is bad for your blood pressure. So, get rid of the habit of eating extra salt today.

Taking Your Snores Lightly

Snoring is not something to joke about. It indicates that you have sleep apnea or obstructive breathing problem. This can make your blood pressure rise suddenly, so you need to get yourself checked.

Having The Wrong Kind Of Oil

They are many people who say that coconut or mustard oil is better for the heart than refined oil. Strictly speaking, all kinds of oil other than olive oil are bad for your heart. So consume as little oil as possible.

Over Exercising

Are you one of the weekend gym goers? Many busy working people who cannot hit the gym every day try to compensate by exercising for more hours in the weekend. Exercise is about regularity. So if you cannot hit the gym every day, stop straining yourself on weekends only.

Not Getting Enough Sleep

Sleeplessness and sleep deprivation puts immense pressure on your heart. So you need to get 8 hours of sleep every day. Have a target to hit the bed early and follow some sleep hygiene to get restful sleep.

Ignoring Dental Hygiene

You must be wondering what your teeth have to do with your heart. Gum diseases cause inflammation in your body muscles. So if you have bad teeth and gums, your chances developing of heart diseases shoots up manifold.

Drinking Too Much

Drinking a glass of wine every day is healthy for your heart. But binge drinking and heavy drinking is bad for your heart. A heart healthy advice would be that don't drink to get drunk every time.

Being A Steak Eater All The Time

Are you that guy who lives on steaks? There is no doubt about the fact that red meat is bad for your heart. So stop biting into your lamb chops and heavy beef steaks every now and then to keep your cholesterol levels under control

Not Checking Blood Pressure Regularly

Your blood pressure must be checked regularly once you hit your 30s. Even before that, it is best to get your blood pressure checked every month.

Being Unhappy And Withdrawn

Unhappiness weighs heavy on your heart more than anything else. So if your boyfriend/girlfriend has broken your heart, don't ruin your heart health. Being withdrawn from the world will not help you. Socialising with your friends will take some load off your heart

Being A Night Owl

Are you one of those people who work late into the night or party till the wee hours? You are putting unnecessary pressure on your heart by doing so. Sleeping at the right time and waking early in the morning is a healthy lifestyle that keeps your heart stress-free.

Not Eating Enough Veggies

Fruits and vegetables give you the fibre that is required to keep your heart healthy. So if you do not eat enough fruits and veggies and keep eating just carbs and proteins, you are ruining your heart health.

Skipping Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you deprive yourself of breakfast, your fat metabolism gets affected and this makes you eat an unhealthy lunch. Skipping breakfast is thus bad for your heart.

Forgetting Blood Pressure Medicine

You simply cannot miss out on any medicines that are related to your heart or blood pressure. Missing even one pill is like flirting with the danger of a heart attack.

Overeating

No one is telling you to go on a diet or stave yourself. You must have a healthy appetite. But eat when you are hungry and not just because you want to eat something delicious.

Letting Work Pressure Take Over Your Life

We all have work pressure but your career cannot buy another lease of life. So take time out, spend time with family and give your heart a vacation once in a while.