In almost all countries in the world, heart diseases are considered to be one of the top reasons for death. While it might be a well known diseases in every part of the world, it can be quite surprising to note that not everyone is aware of the different factors that could contribute to an increase in the risk. Here are some of the things that you might want to keep in mind when it comes to heart diseases:
- You might get a lot of work done by staying up late but that does not mean that your heart would not suffer from your late-night shenanigans. In fact, a number of studies have shown that people who have less than 6 hours of sleep at night are twice more likely to develop heart diseases. Not many people may know it but sleeping actually helps regulate your insulin level. If you lack sleep, your cells become resistant to insulin which, in turn, increases your risk of heart diseases as a result of obesity.
- Your waistline is one good measure of how healthy your heart is. A waistline of more than 40 inches for men and a waistline of more than 35 inches for women should already be a cause for concern. That being the case, make sure that you do regular exercises. It also helps to keep your meals healthy. If you find that your waistline is more than what is considered healthy, reducing your weight by as much as 10% might do the trick.
- Yes, laughter is actually the best medicine. By keeping a positive outlook and giving a genuine laughter, you are actually allowing your blood vessels to relax which enables the blood to flow more smoothly. When you laugh, the cortisol in your body decreases. This is good as cortisol is known to increase blood pressure as well as limit your immune system.
- Feel an attack coming? Take an aspirin. Aspirins are considered to be last-minute lifesavers when it comes to heart attack. Aspirin have long been known to block certain chemicals that cause blood clot. During an onset of a heart attack, an aspirin can help break up whatever is causing the blockage and restore the flow of blood.
- A knowledge of your family’s medical history can also give you an idea of how high a risk you face when it comes to heart diseases.
- If you happen to be of African-American lineage, you might need to have your heart checked regularly as this lineage is more prone to a number of medical conditions that could give rise to a number of heart diseases. Some of these could include hypertension and diabetes. Keep in mind that excess sugar in your system can prove to be a problem for your blood vessels.
- While too much physical exertion might put your heart at even more risk, engaging in sex at least twice a week can actually improve the strength of your heart. This becomes even more helpful if you are able to achieve orgasm. When it comes to sex, however, men tend to benefit more from it than women in decreasing the risk for heart diseases.
- Do you snore at night? Then you might be at a higher risk for developing certain heart conditions. Snoring is a sign that you are overweight which, in turn, could mean that you have hypertension. Your weight could also be taxing your heart.
- Lessen your salt intake. Excessive use of salt can actually lead to hypertension especially if you are already more than 50 years of age.
If you are one of those who face a high risk for heart diseases, you would need to make sure that you have an AED on hand should anything happen.
