Your arteries are a vital part of your cardiovascular system. They are responsible for transporting oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the rest of your body. If your arteries aren’t working properly, then your entire cardiovascular system will suffer. Here we have some habits that can harm your arteries.

Habits that Can Harm Your Arteries

Unfortunately, cardiovascular disease and arterial damage are incredibly common in the United States. In fact, nearly half of all American adults have some level of cardiovascular disease. If you are hoping to take better care of your arteries and stave off potential or future damage, then these are the bad habits that you might want to kick.

Smoking

Smoking is one of the most notable risk factors for heart disease. The inhalation of carbon monoxide alone is enough to decrease the amount of oxygen present in your red blood cells. That means less oxygen-rich blood for your cardiovascular system and the rest of your body.

The decrease in the oxygenation of your blood actively increases the amount of cholesterol in your arteries. It also makes it harder for your body to heal. That isn’t a good combination when it comes to cardiovascular health.

Poor Diet

Managing your diet doesn’t mean that you need to completely do away with foods you enjoy. Rather, it means practicing moderation and trying to maintain a balance in your daily diet.

The current diet of the average American is extremely heavy in carbohydrates, sugars, and fats. All of those things can provide benefits in the right proportion, but many of us aren’t monitoring our diet at all.

Failure to maintain a relatively balanced diet puts you at risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, which can both cause serious damage to your arteries and cardiovascular system at large.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Staying active is an important part of maintaining your heart health. Even 20 minutes of walking can give your body the exercise it needs to keep your cholesterol, your blood pressure, and your weight in check.

Physical activity makes your heart work and keeps the muscle strong. If you want to protect your long-term cardiovascular health, then engaging in physical exercise a little every day is a great way to do so.

Frequent Stress

Our bodies are built to handle occasional stressors. Stress cannot entirely be avoided. However, our bodies were not built to deal with chronic stress. Worrying about your family or your job day in and day out keeps your body in a constant fight-or-flight pattern.

Your cortisol levels stay high. Your heart rate stays elevated, and your blood pressure increases in response to chronic stress. If you are feeling stressed regularly, then the increased pressure will actually cause cardiovascular damage.

Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is not good for our overall health. In fact, frequent or higher levels of consumption can actively damage your cardiovascular system. If you do not already have cardiovascular damage, then you may be able to drink in moderation.

Drinking in moderation is defined as one drink or less per day for the average woman, and two drinks or less per day for the average man.

Avoiding the Doctor

If you have symptoms or a family history of cardiovascular disease, then you should be monitoring your health with the help of your cardiovascular specialist in Los Angeles. Arterial damage and heart disease don’t improve on their own, so don’t avoid the doctor’s office.

Treating Arterial Damage

If you already have coronary artery disease in Beverly Hills, then you can’t undo the decisions that got you to this point. What you can do is work with your doctor to find the treatment and the lifestyle changes that are necessary to protect your health now and in the future.