7 Sneaky Habits That Can Cause Heart Problems

It’s well known that certain habits, like smoking or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, can damage your heart over time.

But many of the everyday habits that we don’t really think about — how frequently we brush our teeth, the supplements we take and the amount of coffee we drink — can also take a toll on the health of our hearts.

What we do, eat and drink can significantly influence our blood pressure, cholesterol and heart rate, and ultimately influence our overall heart function.

Here are a few everyday habits that can contribute to heart problems:

Crash Dieting Or Eliminating Certain Macronutrients

Dr. Daniel Edmundowicz, the chief of cardiology at Temple University Hospital, said that people often think they are eating a healthy, balanced diet but, in actuality, are setting themselves up for heart problems down the road.

For example, he’s seen people adhering to a low cholesterol diet avoid healthy fats, an important macronutrient. Then, they may eat too many carbohydrates. While this type of diet wouldn’t cause an increase in cholesterol levels, it can lead to weight gain and put a lot of stress on the sugar system and diabetes system, according to Edmundowicz.

Crash dieting can similarly tax the cardiovascular system, and research has shown that a sudden and extreme shift in eating habits can lead to a deterioration in heart function.

“Going from one extreme to another really doesn’t help,” Edmundowicz said.

Social Isolation And Loneliness

Being isolated from others can also have a profound impact on our heart health, according to Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar , a board-certified cardiologist at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.

A recent study found that older women have a