Index
- Heartburn habits: change your lifestyle
- The use of dental floss
- Excess ibuprofen
- Tobacco
- Snoring
- An unhealthy diet
- Skip breakfast
- Lack of physical activity
- Eating trans fats
- Stress
Heartburn habits: change your lifestyle
Heart disease and stroke are among the most common leading causes of death. Therefore, lifestyle is very important to maintain cardiovascular health. So here are some heart-healthy habits that you should change immediately.
The use of dental floss
According to recent studies, people who suffer from gum disease have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Of all the habits that are bad for the heart, this is probably the most poorly understood. This is because the bacteria caused by gum disease are able to travel throughout the body. This can trigger inflammation of the arteries.
Excess ibuprofen
Although ibuprofen is convenient for pain and headaches, beware of its side effects. People who take too much ibuprofen are at greater risk of stroke, heart attack and blood clots.
Tobacco
Among the habits bad for the heart, le fait de fumer est le plus connu. En effet, on ne vous apprend rien en vous disant que fumer est fatal pour la santé. Au Canada, d’après les derniers recensements, 37000 canadiens meurent de façon prématurée chaque année à cause du tabagisme. La cigarette actually contributes to the blockage of the arteries. It also increases the risk of blood clots, increases blood pressure and decreases oxygen levels. Did you know that after a year without smoking, the risk of death from cardiovascular disease is reduced by half? Moreover, after 15 years, it is not even higher than that of a person who has never smoked. If you think you can't do it alone, don't hesitate to consult a health professional to help you.
Snoring
Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by a cessation of breathing. If this is the case, snoring is therefore capable of causing an increase in blood pressure.
An unhealthy diet
It is important to eat well for the good of our hearts. Fruits and vegetables should be preferred. These are foods rich in minerals and vitamins that protect the heart and blood vessels. They are also a source of fibre and their antioxidant properties stop the development of arterial blockages. Also, get into the habit of cooking, preparing varied and balanced dishes. Remember that half of your plate should consist of vegetables. If you don't have time to cook during the week, you can prepare meals on weekends in larger quantities and then freeze them.
Skip breakfast
In addition to not starting your day well, not eating in the morning inevitably leads to an increase in the number of calories during other meals. According to a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University, this increases the risk of a heart attack by 55%.
Lack of physical activity
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main habits that are bad for the heart. It is also one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. In order to maintain heart health, it is recommended to exercise 30 to 60 minutes a day. For example, take the stairs instead of the elevators, walk 15 minutes after a meal, get off at a metro station earlier. These are examples that are easy to apply in everyday life. Also, try to take as many as possible around 10,000 steps a day. Setting goals will help motivate you.
Eating trans fats
Trans fat is also one of the major heartburners. It is found in processed foods, such as snacks, cookies, muffins, etc. In addition to increasing the flavour and texture of products, it also extends their shelf life. These are all aspects that companies prefer. However, this is not the case for consumers. Eating trans fat can raise the level of bad cholesterol and lower the level of good cholesterol. As a result, it increases the risk of heart disease. It is therefore strongly recommended to avoid them as much as possible. In other words, be sure to read the ingredients carefully and remove those with trans fat. As an alternative, you can make your own snacks or opt for unsalted nuts, which are very good sources of unsaturated fats and protein.
Stress
One of the most common bad habits for the heart, stress is a difficult factor to control. Yet its consequences are important for the heart. Stress can lead to high blood pressure, narrowing of the arteries and high cholesterol levels. So it's important to keep stress under control. It is therefore essential to target the sources of stress in your life and learn how to eliminate them. To help you, you can do sports, read, meditate,...
