3 Habits To Get Rid Of In A Hurry For A Healthier Heart

flossing-teeth

Medical advances in cardiology mean good news for your heart. That plus the rigorous endovascular intervention training that doctors undergo, it’s never been a better time to be alive!

But there is one thing cutting-edge medical technologies will not save you from… Your daily habits that sabotage the health of your cardiovascular system.

Heart disease and stroke are the 2 leading causes of deaths in America, according to the CDC. And your lifestyle choices could be putting you at higher risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease.

Curative medicines only go so far. If you are serious about reducing your risk of any number of heart diseases, the onus is on you to stop sabotaging your health.

Here are some of the daily habits that could be undermining your heart’s vigor and wellness. And what to do to get yourself on a different track!

Bad habit #1: You go to sleep way past your bedtime.

Beauty in bed

Do you frequently stay up past midnight? Is it a common occurrence for you to get less than 7 hours of sleep each night? Is it hard to recall the last time you woke up feeling refreshed the next day?

Do you like to live dangerously? Because if you frequently skimp on sleep, your cardiovascular health is in danger.

The American Heart Association states that poor sleep hygiene is linked to cardiovascular risks. For instance, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and coronary artery disease. One possible reason for this is that people who are sleep deprived have higher instances of inflammation. Inflammation has been correlated with heart disease and many other illnesses.

Knowing that sleep is essential for health is the first step toward changing your night time behaviors. No longer is bedtime for the lazy or the party-poopers. Getting into bed at a decent hour is one of the simplest and most important ways to fight off a host of heart health issues.

Bad habit #2: You can’t go a day without your favorite sugar-laden treat or deep-fried meal.

sugar-laden treat

Are you addicted to your morning cinnamon roll with your coffee? Perhaps you can’t end a day without reaching for a bag of chips?

Since when are you okay with putting poison in your body?

That exaggeration is only slight. While technically not a poison, trans fats and sugars increase your chance of death by 34 percent, one study showed. And death by heart disease by 28 percent.

Trans fats are created through hydrogenating vegetable oil so that it solidifies. Food manufacturers then take this substance and add it to certain foods to keep the food from spoiling. Foods in your house or in your fridge that likely contain trans fats include the following:

  • Deep fried foods
  • Frozen pie sheets and other sweets
  • Margarine
  • Coffee creamer
  • Potato chips
  • Packaged cakes and cookies
  • Some chocolates

Yes, it might hurt a little to quit the aforementioned foods. But there is some good news… Recent studies have shown that butter and fats that come from animals are said to be good for you! So bypass the trans fats and reach for the natural fats instead!

Bad habit #3: You go to bed without flossing.

flossing-teeth

Do you barely remember to brush your teeth—let alone floss? Perhaps all you are up for at the end of the day is a quick swish of Listerine? This type of attitude could have alarming consequences to your oral health.

Many studies show a correlation between gum conditions and various heart diseases. Experts remain unsure about how the two are connected. But improving your dental health can help you in more ways than one.

Your ability to chew is essential for eating a wide range of foods and obtaining essential nutrients from many sources. If you do not pay attention to your oral health, you put yourself at risk of losing teeth and developing gum problems.

Mayo Clinic states the following ways to improve your oral health:

  • Brush your teeth in the morning and evening. At least twice in a day.
  • Floss every day without fail.
  • Regularly replace your toothbrush. Shoot for every 3 months, or more frequently, if needed.
  • Do not skip your dental cleaning appointments.

Breaking bad habits, particularly ones that plague us daily, can feel like an uphill climb. But small, baby steps are better than no steps at all. And it all starts with realizing the need to change.

Article Submitted By Community Writer

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