By: Ralph Hernandez

Heart disease is a term that refers to several diseases that can affect the heart and its circulation. Some people’s hearts become infected by bacteria or viruses, which leads to various diseases. For others, they have problems with the heart’s internal structures. However, for many people, heart disease is caused by their lifestyles. Let’s look at some things we can change.

Poor Eating Habits

Eating a diet high in saturated fats, too much salt and low in Omega 3 oils can result in heart disease development over time. To reduce your risk, focus on adding more fruits, vegetables, whole-grain grain products, and fiber-rich foods to your diet.

Lack Of Activity

Too many people have become adapted to an inactive lifestyle. You should be exercising for at least thirty minutes every day to maintain a healthy heart. If you are new to exercising and have other health issues, consult with your physician before beginning an exercise program.

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a natural product present in your body and is part of the cell structures. However, when the cholesterol gets high, you can encounter problems, increasing the chances of heart disease. Your diet also affects your cholesterol levels.

Overweight And Obesity

Obesity is often a result of a combination of taking in too many calories, eating the wrong kinds of foods, and not getting enough exercise. The more weight you carry, the harder your heart must work to push blood throughout your body.

High Blood Pressure

Some people have a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure; limiting your salt intake, increasing your activity level, and getting your weight under control can help normalize your blood pressure in many cases.

Blood pressure of 120/80 is normal blood pressure with a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher seen as elevated. By getting your blood pressure under control, you can decrease or delay damage to the heart.

Smoking

If you care about your health, it’s never ok to smoke. Smoking contributes to and accelerates plaques in the artery walls throughout the body, including the heart’s arteries. Smoking damages the heart and blood circulation, making it more likely that someone who smokes regularly will get heart disease or have a heart attack.

Having A Preexisting Disease-Diabetes

Diabetes can develop due to poor lifestyle habits. What is even worse is that diabetes predisposes you to heart disease. diabetes that is not well-controlled or managed mainly puts you at increased risk of heart disease. If you are diagnosed with Diabetes, check your A1C numbers regularly and adopt a healthy diet.  A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. The higher your A1C, the greater your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Stress/Anger

Although the link between stress and heart disease is not clear, chronic stress may cause some people to drink too much alcohol, increasing their blood pressure and may damage the artery walls. Prolonged stress is associated with increased adrenaline, making your heart work that much harder. Many studies have also shown that anger contributes to a damaged heart.

In summary, there are several different causes of heart disease. Some are related to viruses or bacteria that may attack the heart. However, other factors are under your control, such as following a healthy diet and lifestyle. It is up to you to help take care of your heart.