Heart attack and stroke causes: Reduce cholesterol levels by quitting these bad lifestyle habits

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that performs essential functions in the body, but its excess levels can be harmful and pose a health risk. High cholesterol affects the buildup of plaque in arteries, causing conditions like artery disease. It increases the chances of heart attack and stroke.
While genetics play an important role in high cholesterol, there are certain lifestyle habits that inevitably contribute to their increased levels, according to cardiologists.

Here’s a list of some of them:

• Smoking: Smoking is known to be bad for health for more reasons than one. It increases the risk of high cholesterol by damaging the inner lining of blood vessels and increasing the risk of heart disease.

Also read | 7 superfoods that help lower cholesterol levels naturally

• Unhealthy Snacking: Eating healthy is highly recommended to avoid eating between meals. An unhealthy diet leads to mindless snacking and the consumption of processed or salty foods, which increases weight and negatively affects cholesterol levels.

• Skipping Exercise: Incorporating movement into your day through yoga, walks, or workouts helps lower cholesterol levels and improve overall heart health. Sitting for long hours without movement, on the other hand, causes not just weight gain but also an increase in bad cholesterol.

• Stress: Chronic stress not only affects your mood and behaviour, it also causes the liver to produce more cholesterol. Stress leads to eating unhealthy foods and skipping exercise, which contributes to the problem.

Also read | Cholesterol and its consequences: How to lower bad cholesterol, reduce risk of stroke and heart attack

• Obesity: Obesity or being overweight increases the risk of high cholesterol and affects heart health. It’s important to be mindful of what you eat in a day to stay healthy and keep your cholesterol levels in check.

While these habits can lead to high cholesterol, there are multiple ways to break them and begin afresh.

• Start Small: Start by making slight modifications in your lifestyle, like going for a simple 30-minute walk instead of a rigorous workout.

• Use Breathing Techniques: To effectively reduce stress and be mindful, practice breathing techniques, meditate, do yoga, and light movements.

• Find Healthy Options: Instead of unhealthy options, choose healthier, fibre-rich snacks like fruits and roasted chains that do not cause harm.

• Track Your Progress: Monitoring your progress will provide motivation to continue making healthier lifestyle choices and help you celebrate small wins.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.