The heart is the most vulnerable organ in the body, so it comes as no surprise that heart disease still remains the number one cause of death in America. Even though cardiovascular events are, in many cases, preventable, the matters of the heart are among top health concerns worldwide, affecting not just the elderly, but even people younger than 30 years.
The good news is, many risk factors for heart disease are modifiable, giving your heart a chance to stand strong against the impending threat.
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Non-modifiable risk factors – the ones you can’t change – are age, sex, and a family history of heart disease. Modifiable risk factors include smoking status, stress levels, diet, physical activity levels, weight, and alcohol consumption, to name a few.
Even though we’ve been told time and again to eat well and exercise regularly, the unfortunate truth is, many of us are not following these simple recommendations for making our heart healthy. Dr. K. M. Cherian, chairman and CEO of Frontier Lifeline Hospital, explained, “Today’s generation is different. They are competitive because of which they end up neglecting their family, work overtime, and ignore their health.”
People who are heavily involved in their careers are at the highest risk for heart disease as they often do not have effective strategies to deal with work-related tension. Mounting stress, anxiety, and a sedentary lifestyle all take a toll on your heart. Oftentimes, in search of relief from their worries, people engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, drinking alcohol excessively, and consuming processed foods, which are all very taxing on the heart, too.
As you can see, your heart is constantly under attack, with many of your daily habits undermining its health. Don’t be afraid to slow down. Take a moment to evaluate what’s going on in your life that may be hurting your heart. Adjusting your lifestyle accordingly can help you reduce your risk of heart disease over time.
Related: Causes of heart attack (myocardial infarction) in elderly
