Could skipping breakfast actually damage your heart? Doctors have listed seven lifestyle habits that may trigger cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke, and in extreme cases, could even lead to sudden death.
Among them, skipping breakfast can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 22%, and the risk of death surges by 25 percent. Furthermore, one common sleep habit may increase the risk of heart failure by up to 140 percent.
Intensive care specialist Dr. Ooi Hean wrote on his Facebook page, citing multiple research studies, that seven major lifestyle patterns can harm heart health, exacerbate the risk of stroke and heart failure, and may even lead to sudden cardiac death.
He reminded everyone that understanding and improving these habits or conditions early is crucial for protecting the heart.
A systematic review study showed that skipping breakfast increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 22 percent and the risk of death by 25 percent. Eating breakfast, on the other hand, regularly helps lower blood pressure and prevents the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research has found that if you snore chronically, systolic blood pressure increases by 3mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 4mmHg. If snoring is caused by Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), it is even more dangerous. Long-term OSA can increase the risk of heart failure by 140 percent.
Stress in daily life exposes the body to the long-term effects of stress hormones. Studies indicate that these repeated, long-term stimulations can lead to increased blood pressure, followed by rises in cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Under chronic life stress, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease may increase nearly twofold.
Studies have found that remaining completely sedentary increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30 percent. Each hour of prolonged sitting increases the risk of cardiovascular disease by 5 percent.
Research has found that compared to those working 35-40 hours per week, people working over 55 hours per week have a 17 percent higher risk of myocardial infarction and a 35 percent increased risk of cerebrovascular disease.
Being overweight and having a large waist circumference are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Studies found that individuals with a BMI over 27.6 have their risk of cardiovascular disease increased by 3.3 to 5.3 times. If a man's waist circumference exceeds 99cm or a woman's exceeds 93cm, the risk of cardiovascular disease can skyrocket by 3.8 to 4.8 times.
Staying up late leads to poorer sleep quality. Research has found that long-term sleep deprivation can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 67 percent. People sleeping less than five hours have a 200 to 300 percent greater degree of coronary artery calcification.
Hean pointed out that the aforementioned research reflects how many seemingly ordinary behaviors or habits can actually pose significant threats to the heart, and their long-term cumulative impact should not be overlooked.
Therefore, he recommends changing lifestyle habits, reasonably arranging diet, managing stress, maintaining appropriate exercise, and ensuring adequate sleep, which will greatly help improve heart health, prolong life, and lead to a healthier life.
