Heart Health: 6 surprising activities that can hurt your heart health

Our heart is a delicate organ responsible for pumping blood and oxygen to different body parts through the circulatory system. Keeping it healthy is vital to living a long and disease-free life. For that, including a healthy diet and regular exercise are considered essential. Apart from these two, several other activities that surprisingly have an impact on our heart health. While they seem like harmless activities, in the long run they can reduce the efficiency of your heart, making you more prone to heart conditions. Here are six surprising activities that can harm your heart health.

Irrespective of whether your job demands you to sit all day at the same place or if you like spending the entire day lying on the couch, sitting all day can double the risk of heart failure. As per a study published in American Heart Association (AHA) journal, those who do not move enough or tend to sit for five hours or more each day are more likely to develop heart issues. To keep the heart healthy it is recommended to take a five-minute walk every hour.

Unhealthy oral habits not only lead to dental problems like gum inflammation and tooth decay, but they can also give way to heart and kidney related diseases. A study published in the Journal of Periodontal Research found that people who floss regularly are less likely to suffer from heart-related issues. That's because the bacteria that lead to gum problems can also promote inflammation in the body, increasing the risk of heart disease. Flossing helps to remove hidden bacteria from the mouth.

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Yes, loneliness can be a reason for mental as well as physical health problems. Lonely people are more prone to suffer from heart disease. Spending time with family and friends helps to reduce stress level and also add years to your life. Even adopting a pet can help to bring joy to life.

Living in a toxic or unhappy relationship has also been found to be associated with spike in cases of heart problems. It increases the stress level and makes you indulge in unhealthy eating habits. This eventually increases the risk of heart problems in couples. A happy and content relationship keeps the person mentally and physically healthy and increases longevity.

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Exercising is great for overall well-being, including heart health. But too much exercising at one time, especially when you are out of shape or haven't exercised for long can put extra pressure on your heart, increasing the risk of heart issues. Working too hard and too fast can increase the risk of a heart attack. So, start slow and listen to your body while exercising.

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Sprinkling extra salt into your food can increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. Even processed foods and junk foods can put you at risk of heart problems and other heart issues. Taking more than 5 grams of salt in your food can also put you at risk of other health concerns.