Cardiologist named hidden factors leading to heart attack

A cardiologist has named everyday habits that can lead to a heart attack. Among the risk factors are not only smoking and alcohol, but also things that many people don't even think about.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to Russian media, cardiologist Valeria Tkhorikova warned that poor nutrition with excess salt, sugar, and trans fats leads to rising cholesterol levels and spikes in blood pressure. However, a sedentary lifestyle is no less insidious — those who move little have approximately double the risk of a heart attack compared to people who devote at least half an hour daily to physical activity.

The specialist drew particular attention to sleep quality. Those who sleep less than six hours a day are significantly more likely to suffer a heart attack than people who rest for the recommended 7–9 hours. According to the doctor, working night shifts also poses an additional threat to the heart.

The cardiologist also pointed to the destructive impact of chronic stress, anxiety, and constant nervous tension on the cardiovascular system. According to her, a combination of several harmful habits at once becomes especially dangerous — in this case, the likelihood of cardiovascular diseases increases manifold.

At the same time, the expert emphasized that it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of a heart attack, but healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and giving up harmful habits can significantly reduce the likelihood of its occurrence.