Activities Hazardous to Heart Health
There are many activities that we do routinely in our day-to-day lives that are hazardous to our hearts. These activities range from the mundane stress of being stuck in traffic, overindulging in rich, fatty meals, yard work and strenuous exercise. Educate yourself about what makes activities hazardous and how to minimize risk in order to protect your heart.
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Driving
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Driving in traffic significantly increases the likelihood of a heart attack. Dr. Arthur Agatston, M.D. advises in "Prevention" that one of the first things he asks a patient when he calls is "are you driving?" Dr. Agatston states that driving in traffic is a risky activity for the heart. Being stuck in a traffic jam causes blood pressure to rise and can increase risk of a heart attack by three times. Driving in the morning, especially Monday mornings, further increases that risk. Dr. Agatston states that in the mornings our body releases adrenaline and other stress hormones, resulting in an increase in blood pressure. To decrease your risk, wake up slowly, allowing time to hit snooze and greet the day gently. In your car, practice deep breathing techniques or listen to calming music when you feel yourself getting frustrated with traffic.
Over-indulgence
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It is well known that eating foods high in trans fats and cholesterol is not good for you, but eating a large high-calorie or high-carbohydrate meal is also not good for you. These meals constrict the blood vessels, placing you at higher risk for a heart attack. If you must indulge your sweet-tooth or desire for rich foods, do so in small portions.
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Strenuous Exercise
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Marathon running has received a bad rap in recent years as seemingly healthy people succumb to heart problems while running. Exercise promotes a healthy heart, so how can it be bad for you? Your body needs time to build towards strenuous exercise. Like every other muscle in your body, your heart needs time to build up strength to complete strenuous tasks. To train for a marathon or other fitness event, discuss first with your doctor to ensure you are healthy enough to begin a training plan; that there are no underlying health issues that may be aggravated by intense exercise. Exercise should not be avoided but done wisely.
Yard Work
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Shoveling snow elevates your heart rate similar to strenuous exercise. Shoveling your driveway is a necessity for most, but it is also strenuous exercise especially if you do not exercise on a regular basis. The same is true for using a push mower to mow your lawn on a hot summer day. Approach yard work the same as you would any exercise you don't do regularly. Start small, take frequent breaks and drink a lot of water. You may choose to wear a heart rate monitor to check on your heart rate as you are shoveling to ensure that your heart rate does not climb to dangerous levels.
Doing Nothing
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An article published in the New York Times "Effects of Exercise on the Heart" in February 2011, points out that inactivity puts you at the biggest risk for heart attack. While you need to relax and keep your stress levels under control, spending hours on the couch channel-surfing is not the answer. Go for a walk, join your local gym or start taking swimming classes. A little activity to begin with will go a long way to improving your health. According to the American Heart Association, even moderately intense physical activity such as brisk walking will help decrease risk of heart problems if done regularly for a total of 30 minutes or longer on most or all days.
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References
- Photo Credit heart monitor image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com major traffic jam 2 image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com not finished image by Sorin Alb from Fotolia.com
