A few easy lifestyle changes may help reduce your chance of a heart attack.
Your doctor is the go-to for keeping that ticker in working order. But you can also play it smart, and sidestep situations that increase the risk of a myocardial infarction.
Traffic in general
While air quality is known to increase the risk of heart disease and heart attacks, it seems traffic overall isn’t great for you.
Pollution from car exhausts, traffic jams, living near noisy roads – heavy traffic keeps popping up in studies around possible factors increasing heart attack risk.
A little mindfulness won’t hurt. Watch stress levels on the road, try to avoid peak hour driving, and consider investing in better air quality at home.
Sleeplessness
Sleep apnoea is commonly known to increase heart attack risk, but did you know sleep deprivation also increases your chances?
A study has shown regularly sleeping less than six hours a night places you at higher risk of experiencing a heart attack.
A pattern of missed sleep is bad for your body overall, negatively impacting immune function and mental health. If insomnia is an issue, speak to your GP to try to pinpoint the cause.
Extreme weather
A recent experiment showed rising body temperature during a heatwave makes the heart work harder, increasing risk in older people with existing heart disease.
Exposure to very cold weather can also be problematic. Blood vessels may narrow, causing blood pressure and pulse to increase, putting pressure on the heart.
Take note of your body temperature and comfort. In both weather extremes, the intensity of exercise and other physical endeavours should be monitored.
Feasting
A catch-up meal with friends is a lot of fun – but you might want to hold back at the buffet table.
Indulging in a large amount of food places pressure on the body. The digestive system needs to process what you ate, pulling more blood.
Stress hormones are released that can raise heart rate and blood pressure, and increase the risk of clotting. That’s before you even get to the fats.
Avoid overeating. A quick protein snack before heading out to a big meal, or a soup entree should help.
Transformative change
Getting fit and losing weight are both great for heart health. But did you know going too hard too fast may place the heart under stress?
Research shows a portion of heart attacks are caused by intense exercise, especially since heart disease and other heart conditions are often undiagnosed.
Rapid weight loss can be unhealthy. Starving the body of fats eventually worsens heart function, and denying the body nutrients risks imbalances that impact heart health.
Make weight loss gradual, and increase your fitness routine slowly to ensure you safely reap the benefits. If uncertain, consult a dietitian or personal trainer.
Health conditions
Asthma and migraines up the chance of a myocardial infarction. While these are beyond your control, in both cases heart attack symptoms can be mislabelled. Take care not to dismiss what you’re experiencing.
Asthmatics have a much higher risk of heart attack. Research shows associated inflammation is a contributing factor. Risk further increases if asthma develops later in life, or requires use of an inhaler.
According to studies, migraine sufferers – notably those who have migraines often and/or experience visual disturbances – are at slightly increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks.
Getting emotional
Experiencing strong emotions, good or bad, can increase your chance of a heart attack. From heavy grief to extreme happiness, learning to regulate your emotions may save your life.
Studies show everything from watching popular sports to the death of a loved one can place you at increased risk of a heart attack.
Good news and extreme joy can also be shocking. Whatever the type of emotion, a flood of hormones and the change in heart rate risks setting off medical scenarios.
In summary, try not to get too wound-up next time you’re enjoying the footy.
Do you have a family history of heart disease? What do you do to improve your heart health? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: One-minute heart rate test can predict risk of cardiac arrest
