Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among Americans. Oftentimes it can strike unexpectedly, often too late for medical intervention. Early discovery is key and while we may know about the more common causes like obesity, smoking and stress. There are 5 unexpected causes of heart disease that you may not know about. Let’s have a look.
Alcohol Consumption
Over consumption of alcohol and alcoholism doesn’t just affect your liver but it can cause hardening of your arteries as well. It can cause your cholesterol levels to increase which is a contributing factor to heart disease. This isn’t the occasional glass of wine with dinner but if you find yourself drinking too much it could be a bigger problem than you realize.
Low Levels of Vitamin D
Vitamin D is needed by the body and for some the lack of it can lead to heart disease. On the plus side there is an easy fix, Vitamin D is readily available in foods such as eggs, orange juice, green vegetables and oily fish. Consult with your doctor and if your Vitamin D levels are too low you can take supplements or get Vitamin D shots until it is back to normal. Here is how Vitamin D helps your heart.
Recurring Flu
If you end up with the flu regularly then you need to see your doctor. The flu is caused by a virus and when you have it your immune system is weakened and can’t do its job. Weakened immune systems can lead to heart disease as the virus can get into the heart muscle itself and damage the tissues that are there. If you get the flu more than once per year you need to talk to your physician.
Diet Pills
While maintaining a healthy weight is good for your heart you need to be careful how you get to that healthy weight. There is no quick fix and you’ll find that diet pills can do far more harm than good. There are chemicals in diet pills that can weaken your heart and cause blocked arteries. Exercise and a healthy diet is a much safer route to taking off any excess weight.
Loneliness
Isolation and loneliness can cause stress , depression and high blood pressure. There have been studies done that show the risk of heart disease being 30% higher in patients who suffer from depression. Depression causes a change in the chemicals in your brain that in turn cause damage to the body. You need a good social support network and seek professional help with your depression.