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Are Your 20 Something Habits Setting You Up for a Heart Attack?
Most people in their 20s don't spend a lot of time thinking about cardiac disease, but the habits that you cultivate in young adulthood may set you up for a heart attack down the road. While you may think you have plenty of time to change your ways, you could be doing serious damage to your system today.
Heart disease risk is relatively easy to control, as it’s so heavily influenced by lifestyle choices. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes are all factors that indicate a person may be at increased risk for cardiac arrest. However, don't assume that because you don't have those conditions yet that you're in the clear. Here are some habits that could be leading you down the road to a heart attack faster than you think:
Heavy drinking
More than one drink per day significantly raises your risk of heart disease.
Obesity
Having an above-normal body mass index (BMI) also elevates your risk. However, it's important to note that you can still experience a cardiac episode even if you are not obese. Don't assume just because you are a normal weight that you are in the clear.
Sedentary lifestyle
Studies have shown that regular exercise dramatically decreases your risk of heart disease, while sitting on the couch or at a computer all day elevates it.
Smoking
Even occasional smoking can damage your heart. The sooner you kick the habit, the better for your body.
Unhealthy diet
Younger people tend to eat a lot of fast food and unhealthy fats because they feel they’re not at risk for heart disease. But those unhealthy eating habits now can spell trouble later. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein now can help keep cholesterol levels in check later in life.
An important step toward mitigating your risk of heart disease is getting regular wellness checks from a young age. Call our 24/7 Contact Center or make an appointment online to visit with a Kelsey-Seybold primary care physician about how you can start preventing heart disease now.
