Causes of Heart Disease

 Heart disease is known as a silent killer. Most of the time it strikes unexpectedly or is detected in the lethal stages. However, early detection is key. Besides the obvious causes of heart disease, there are other factors you should be aware of. Here are 5 surprising causes of heart disease and how to prevent them.

Loneliness.

As cliché as it sounds, there is real truth to it. Based on studies, the risk of heart disease can increase by at least 30 percent due to depression and loneliness. Unintended isolation and loneliness can cause undue stress, high blood pressure, and depression. When this happens, certain brain chemicals also change, causing more damage to your body. It is important to have good social support and stress. Also, if you feel the onset of depression, it is best to seek professional help immediately.

Regular drinking.

Regular consumption of alcohol can result not only in addiction and liver disease but also in the hardening of the arteries. Cholesterol levels can also increase. A contributing factor to heart disease. It's okay to drink occasionally and drink in moderation.

Repeated flu. 

If you have the flu regularly, it's a cause for concern, and it's not just the flu itself. Since it is a viral illness, a person suffering from the flu may have a severely weakened immune system. That's why the flu often comes with coughs, colds, and other illnesses. Unfortunately, a weakened immune system can be prone to heart disease because the virus can enter the heart's valves and channels, which in turn weakens the tissues.

Vitamin D deficiency. 

Vitamin D is an important nutrient that the body needs. A deficiency of this vitamin is known to cause heart disease in some people. The good thing is that vitamin D can be easily obtained from foods such as oily fish, green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, orange juice, and soy milk. You can get checked to see if your vitamin D deficiency is severe. Your doctor will likely provide vitamin D supplements or injections.

Diet pills. 

While maintaining a healthy weight is important, so is how you do it. For example, diet pills can do more harm than good. Some diet pills contain chemicals that can weaken the heart muscles and block arteries, leading to heart disease. Take the safer route: exercise and a good diet. It's a long way to lose weight, but it's still the best. If you want to take diet pills, consult your doctor. At the very least, a GP can give you an informed choice and sound medical advice