Habits That Threaten Your Heart... and Others That Save It
In recent medical reports, several cardiologists revealed that preventing heart disease does not necessarily require drastic changes, but rather begins with small daily habits that individuals practice without realizing their cumulative impact on coronary artery health. The platform “India TV News” reported that Dr. Nicole Harken, a board-certified cardiology consultant, warned against five habits she considers the most dangerous to heart health, noting that most heart attacks she has witnessed in young women were linked to smoking or the use of electronic cigarettes.
According to Dr. Harken, ignoring chest pain is one of the most common mistakes, as many patients reach the hospital hours after experiencing pain despite believing they are out of danger. She also emphasized the need to limit regular consumption of processed meats such as sausages and cold cuts, warning that these foods cumulatively and linearly increase the risk of heart disease. She added that neglecting family medical history, along with compromising on quality sleep, are factors that explain the rising number of heart attacks among young people.
In the same context, “Newsweek” magazine quoted Dr. Tiffany De Petro, from her clinic in Florida, United States, regarding three daily habits she follows to protect her heart. She starts her morning with ten minutes of meditation, completely avoids adding salt to her food whether during cooking or at the table, and walks for 10 to 15 minutes after each meal. She explained that controlling blood sugar levels after meals provides direct protection for the heart and arteries, regardless of whether one has diabetes or not.
For his part, the website “Bariad” presented, via the “AOL” platform, the testimony of Dr. Nadeem Gillo, the medical director of the structural heart department at Abbott, who revealed five habits he stopped practicing years ago. These include sitting for long periods without movement, neglecting adequate sleep, facing psychological stress without healthy coping mechanisms, and overconsuming sugary drinks and salty foods. He noted that a survey conducted by Abbott showed that 74 percent of adults in the United States believe chronic diseases are preventable, while 61 percent admit they do not make sufficient efforts to care for their health.
These testimonies align with what was reported by the website “Fuz Bangladesh,” which warned against seven daily habits that may harm the heart without many people realizing it:
• Sleeping less than seven hours regularly, which raises stress hormone levels.
• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, due to their direct impact on damaging blood vessels.
As the details of these habits vary from one source to another, doctors agree on one key idea: preventing heart disease is not built on a single major decision, but on the accumulation of small daily choices related to sleep, physical activity, nutrition, and stress management. While some doctors recommend regular check-ups and monitoring family medical history, others believe that the simplest steps—such as walking after meals or reducing salt intake—may be the most effective in the long term for reducing the growing burden of heart and arterial diseases.
