A healthy heart is the key to a healthy body, because after all, the health of the heart determines our ability to stay alive. According to statistics, more than 1 in every 3 American adults are diagnosed with cardiovascular ailments. And the biggest reason behind this extremely sad ratio is unhealthy lifestyles and heart-damaging habits.

However, there’s no reason to despair because these bad habits can be easily altered to make a huge difference to the health of your heart. You simply have to make some healthy lifestyle changes and your heart will be youthful once again.

Here, take a look at the worst 19 habits that severely damage your heart, and how they can be avoided:

1. Excessive Consumption of Alcohol

Researchers believe that the moderate consumption of alcohol is actually good for the heart, but if you consume it excessively, it can cause severe damage. You see, excessive consumption of alcohol puts you at a greater risk for developing high blood pressure levels, increased levels of blood fats and it contributes to the development of heart failure. Also, it fills up your body with excessive calories, which causes obesity, another grave risk factor that leads to heart ailments.

It is wise to limit your consumption, men should have no more than two drinks every day, while women should limit themselves to just one. Just to be clear, one drink equals to a 4 ounce glass of wine, or a 12-ounce pitcher of beer.

2. Smoking or Living with a Smoker

One simply cannot stress enough on the need to quit smoking because it aggravates the symptoms of heart ailments worse than any other bad habit. You see, smoking ruins the health of the heart as it encourages the formation of blood clots, which block the blood flow received by the heart, along with encouraging the build-up of plaque within the arteries.

Smoking is a highly injurious habit that isn’t just dangerous for your health, but in fact, it is dangerous for the health of everyone around you. Statistics reveal that nearly 46000 non-smokers who live with smokers tend to die from heart ailments every year because second-hand smoke is just as dangerous as smoking yourself.

16 COMMENTS

  1. Sir, i have been smoking since 25 years but average is 3 per day. Now, i am 48 years old. I do exercise every day since 15 years. If I stop smoking totally, in how many years i would become equivalent to a non smoker? I don’t have any ailment so far except BP. Using since 6 years.

    • Thats a very fair and relevant question… probably too many individuals
      Did you get a response or satisfactory answer to this Chandra??

  2. sir, i”ve been smoke when i was 20yrs old and now i have some problem with my heart and please can you help me or teach me some ways to solve my problem!

  3. Sir , my son of 9 years old somethimes something in the midle of the chest it hurts . How do i now whats hapening to him and wy?

  4. Actually our sleep is the most important thing in our lives. We will definitely die without Delta and Rem levels of sleep. Our bodies do not rejuvenate, memories aren’t made. Eventually, we become mentally unstable and are worse than perpetually drunk. And of course, it will destroy your heart, but in your madness, you won’t even notice. That’s why it’s called torture!! Sadly, some of us suffer from this disorder, and there is no cure. My specialist called it death by 1000 cuts.

  5. Hi,The articles were all very interesting I enjoyed reading about them an I do exercises an walk 3 to 6 miles every other day. I do sit ups an stretching watch what I eat stay away from fried foods I eat chicken alot an salad’s I use raspberry vinaigrette. I’m 66 now still want to loose 10 pound’s I’m 135.

  6. Sodium intake causing high blood pressure is only true in the short term – only of concern if you are already dealing with high blood pressure. As for the rest of this, bang on. My only question is how does one manage to get enough calories from vegetables and fruits alone? It would seem rather difficult – as fruits and especially vegetables tend to be very dilute sources of caloric intake.

  7. Smoking is probably the worse thing you can do to your health aside from drinking too much regularly, I’ve watched several friends and relatives pass away from it. It’s the most insidious way to die.

    • It has been successful 25 days that i have left smoking. I am a patient of high blood pressure and i am on meds (Amlo). Initially it was a tough decision and despite of deciding, i was unable to survive for even a day and end up smoking a ciggerate.
      Motivation is the key. I downloaded a app to help me quit. It shows how many days i was smoke free and helped me to keep up. Self motivation is only that can help. There are many app for this. Now after 25 days of smoke free lungs, i feel full of oxygen and can actually breath deep.

  8. Sir,when i am jogging or doing some rigorous exercise i do feel some pains in my chest and i have a high blood pressure.Please are this all symptoms of heart problems.

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