Let’s face it no matter how well you take care of yourself, health information in 2023 has gotten convoluted and confusing. It is a challenge to know who to trust and who to listen to.

We wanted to give you a quick and dirty list of things to be aware of that can place you at risk for heart disease, America’s number one cause of death.

High blood pressure (hypertension) – If your numbers come back as elevated, take note… If they continue to remain high, talk with your primary doctor or cardiologist.

High Blood Cholesterol

Diabetes

Carrying too much excess body fat (especially belly fat)

Smoking

Lack of physical activity

Heredity and family history

Eating foods that have trans fats and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils

High-stress levels

Drinking Alcohol excessively

Not going to the dentist regularly – bacteria from your gums may move into your bloodstream, leading to inflammation of the blood vessels and other heart problems.

Working odd hours – working night shifts can mess with your circadian rhythms and can become problematic for your health if you have other risk factors already in play.

Road Rage & Traffic Jams – For many this can drive up your blood pressure making your heart and entire cardiovascular system work harder. Leave earlier, find another route, or change where it is you need to go. It is not worth your health.

Early Menopause – If you hit menopause before you turn 46, your odds of having a heart attack or stroke may be two times as high as those it happens to later in life.

If you snore – you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can damage the heart. See a sleep specialist and see if a CPAP machine might be right for you.

Hepatitis – can raise your risk of heart disease.

Chronic Insomnia – Your body’s repair time is during REM sleep. If your body isn’t repairing itself, it can spell trouble for the heart.

Taking back control of your health and your life feels amazing. Do not let this list overwhelm you if you have multiple items checked off. Work on correcting as much as you can but go one step at a time.

At the office of Tampa Cardiovascular Associates, we are here to help. From nutritional plans and advice to helping you with medically related corrections. Just call to schedule your appointment today. 813-972-2800 or visit us online to learn more about our practice by going to www.tampacardio.com.