New Delhi: The unfortunate demise of comedian Raju Srivastava and singer KK earlier this year due to cardiac arrest brought heart diseases in the spotlight yet again – not to forget the untimely deaths of former Australian cricketer Shane Warne and actor Siddharth Shukla. Cardiac arrest is a condition wherein the heart stops beating suddenly. Cardiovascular diseases are globally recognised as one of the leading causes of death – however, doctors say that it is not an intricate task to understand heart diseases such as heart attacks and cardiac arrests to and take appropriate precautions.
And when it comes to the heart, one, might feel that diet and workout are the parameters that make all the difference. However, that is not particularly true. There are several other habits that could force stop the heart and that too in a surprisingly short time frame.
Not exercising
Of course, the subject of heart health is sensitive to workouts – therefore, it is advised to get a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to high intensity workout every week. Not only does it help maintain body weight and muscle mass ratios to safe levels, it strengthens the bones, immunity, and regulates blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well. Try yoga, aerobics, cardio workouts and weight training for best results.
Smoking
Cigarettes or the stick of cancer is associated not just with cancer but also with hypertension as smoking can narrow the arteries to obstruct smooth blood circulation. The American Heart Association links smoking with a heightened risk of heart diseases. Smoking not only contributes to diseases but also worsens them.
Eating too much junk food
Filling up on junk food, processed food, refined carbohydrates and sugars can take a massive toll on the heart. These foods are loaded with calories and massively deprived of nutrition which makes them highly inappropriate for health. These foods, when eaten mindlessly, can contribute to risk of obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol that can clog arteries to trigger a heart attack or a stroke.
Excess belly fat
Belly fat is a friend of none – it is neither attractive nor healthy as visceral fat accumulates in the abdominal cavity and can even wrap around the stomach, intestines, liver and the heart to obstruct their normal function. Belly fat could also result in catastrophic metabolic syndrome.
Skipping health check-ups
It is advised to not skip health check-ups as these can overtime allow the silent killers to get worse only to cause long-term damage. For instance, high cholesterol and hypertension come without any early sign which makes them worse overtime only to cause irreversible damage in the long run. Therefore, it is advised to not skip health check-ups.
Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
