Why These Three Health Mistakes May Harm Your Heart

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels aren't always easy to spot because their symptoms aren't always obvious. However, you can manage your heart's health if you know what to look out for so that you don't make serious health mistakes. Avoiding these three mistakes is a good start for looking out for your heart's health:

Ignoring Erection Problems

If you have a problem getting or maintaining an erection, then you may be dealing with more than a case of impotence. This is because the primary cause of impotence is reduced blood flow to the penis, which may occur if your heart isn't pumping adequate blood. This may happen due to a dysfunction of the inner lining of the blood vessels.

Therefore, don't just start treating your erection problem, for example by resorting to home remedies, when you experience the problem. You may be treating the symptom while your heart problem is worsening. It's best to consult your doctor to diagnose the issue and treat the root of the problem.

Thinking You Are Too Young For a Heart Attack

People tend to think heart attacks are diseases for senior members of the society. This assumption isn't entirely wrong because age is a risk factor for the disease; men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 are more likely to get a heart attack.

However, this is just a general rule, and there are lots of exceptions. For example, statistics shows that about 4% - 10% of heart attacks strike those below the age of 45, and the majority of the victims are men.

Therefore, it's never too early to start caring for your heart's health. Stick to a healthy diet, quit smoking, get regular physical exercise and manage your weight. It's also advisable to learn your family's health history, especially for those dealing with heart diseases, and furnish your doctor with the information.

Ignoring Your Depression

Different aspects of your health are connected, and ignoring one may worsen the other. For example, doctors have linked depression and heart health. According to Heart.org, about 10% of the general population of America is suffering from depression, but the figure rises to 33% for Americans who are also heart attack patients.  

One reason for this is that depression increases the level of the stress hormone (cortisol) in your body. Elevated levels of this hormone are associated with increased risk of heart attacks.

This means if you have depression, you should control it so it doesn't affect your heart. Not only that, but you should also have a cardiac exam to confirm that your heart is functioning optimally. This is especially true if you also have other risk factors for a heart attack. Go to website resources available through cardiac care centers to learn more.