Bad Habits for Heart Health
By Sara Butler
Cardiovascular disease is killing Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2,200 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each and every day. The best way to not become a part of this frightening statistic? Prevention.
It’s important to change how you think about what causes heart disease because it’s not caused by fat or cholesterol, but by bad habits. Here are some of the worst heart habits you may have and how to stop them for your heart health.
Bad Habit No. 1: Eating Trans Fats
You may think you’re safe because the food you’re eating is labeled as containing zero trans fats, but you have to look a little closer. Food manufacturers can claim zero trans fats on a product if it has less than 0.5 grams per serving. You may think that’s negligible, but there’s no amount of trans fats that are safe for consumption.
Look at the label of the food you’re buying and see if it contains partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. If so, that’s simply trans fat in disguise, so put it back on the shelf.
Bad Habit No. 2: You Don’t Get Enough Sleep
You may have heard stories about people who function on just three to fours hours of sleep per night. You may even envy those people and their high rates of supposed productivity, but one thing you shouldn’t envy is what they’re doing to their hearts.
Your body needs seven to eight hours of sleep every night to reduce stress and reduce the chances of chronic disease. In fact, people who don’t get the recommended amount of sleep are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic diseases that can be caused by inflammation. So, do your heart a favor and get the right amount of sleep.
Bad Habit No. 3: You Neglect Your Gums
Did you know there’s a link between heart disease and gum disease? It’s true! If you have gum disease and it goes untreated, it can impact the health of your heart, increasing your chance of developing heart disease. Flossing every day can help to reduce gum disease and keep your heart -- and your teeth -- healthy in the process!
Take care of your heart. After all, it's the only one you've got! If you have questions about how to break your bad habits, have a chat with the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Temple, Tex.