The everyday habits that harm YOUR HEART HEALTH

From too much coffee to not enough sleep - you can protect your cardiovascular health with some easy lifestyle tweaks

- WORDS: TANYA PEAREY. PHOTOS (POSED BY MODELS): GETTY. *BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION. **FROM MIRAFIT. IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH, SEE YOUR GP

We all know how important a healthy heart is, but many of us are not doing what we should to keep it strong. 'Protecting our heart is essential for maintaining longevity, and avoiding harmful conditions such as heart disease and strokes,' says Dr Donald Grant, GP and senior clinical adviser at The Independent Pharmacy.

Globally, heart and circulatory diseases cause nearly one in three of all deaths, but an estimated 80% of these could be prevented by making lifestyle changes*.

'Many bad habits wreak havoc on our cardiovascular wellbeing,' says Dr Grant. But there is plenty we can do to cut our risk of heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

Not getting enough sleep

'A 2020 study revealed that three-quarters of Brits get less than eight hours of sleep, harming their cardiovascular health in various ways,' says Dr Grant. 'This can increase cortisol levels, which leads to high blood pressure, and massively increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Poor sleep may also boost the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.'

HEART HELPER Aim for about seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep, and ensure you stick to the same going-to-bed and getting-up times. 'Avoid consuming caffeinated or sugary snacks up to two hours before you go to bed,' says Dr Grant.

Too much caffeine

'Coffee remains a go-to for many, due to its energy-boosting benefits, but together with energy drinks, coffee also poses incredible risks to cardiovascular health, due to the high caffeine content,' warns Dr Grant. 'Both drinks increase blood pressure and heart rate, two risk factors associated with heart disease. Additionally, high-caffeine beverages can cause irregular heartbeats and palpitations while also causing arterial spasms.'