When you think about possible risk factors for heart disease or heart attacks the usual culprits might come to mind - genetics, smoking, obesity, and poor eating habits.
You might be surprised to know that there are other causes that could be affecting your heart and increasing your risk of heart disease. These are a few of the areas you need to watch out for.
You Don’t Sleep Well
Doctors are still working on figuring out the link between poor sleep and many health conditions but the statistics can’t be denied. When it comes to heart attacks, the data shows that those who get fewer than 6 hours of sleep per night are more likely to have one.
You Live in The South
In an interesting 2016 study, it was determined that where you live can have a significant effect on your health. It was shown that those who live below the Mason Dixon line are exposed to environmental conditions such as poor air quality that may increase the risk of heart disease.
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You’re Starved For Company
Studies show that persons who have little to no social interactions are up to 29% more likely to develop heart disease.
Conversely, persons who live with a partner lowered their risk of ischemic heart disease by up to 28%. It’s estimated that being lonely can cause the kind of inflammation in the body that leads to multiple illnesses including heart disease.
You Have Regular Migraines
While the link is not yet clear, health professionals have noticed a significant correlation between having migraines and heart-related issues. If you have auras with your migraines, you need to be even warier.
You Were an Early Bloomer
Women who start menstruating before the age of 12 and reach menopause before 47 have a higher risk of heart disease. Additionally, women who have had their ovaries removed or a miscarriage are at a higher risk for heart-related issues.
You Have Asthma
Even if you’re sticking to your prescribed regime for keeping your asthma under control, you still have a 70% increased chance of a heart attack. Health professionals suggest that the diseases could have chronic inflammation in common but there’s no consensus yet.
Your Dental Health is Poor
If you haven’t been taking care of your teeth, you could easily develop bacterial infections such as periodontal disease.
The bacteria can then get into your bloodstream and cause arterial inflammation. That inflammation can develop into atherosclerosis, which leads to heart disease.
You’re Taking Certain Medications
Persons who are taking medications for migraines, ADHD, as well as cancer may be increasing their risk of heart disease.
These medications affect the heart to varying degrees so it’s best to talk to your doctor about the potential alternatives.
What You Can Do To Cut Your Risk
While there are a few factors on this list that you can’t do anything about, it helps to change the ones you can. For example, poor sleep can be caused by multiple issues. The best way to get a good night’s sleep is to look into what’s robbing you of the well-needed rest.
Don’t shy away from getting your doctor involved if nothing you do on your own is making a difference. For the factors that you can’t change, such as having asthma, focus on knowing the early signs of heart disease. If you tackle the condition at the beginning, you can stop things from getting worse.
Given that heart disease is a major killer of Americans in general and African Americans in particular, it’s important for you to know all the factors that put you at risk. The more of them you can get under control, the less likely it is that you’ll become another heart disease statistic.
