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It is often taken for granted that our daily lives are reasonably safe. However, it’s quite possible that the routine we’re leading is increasing our risk of a sudden death, as revealed by a new list of the top 10 deadliest daily routines. From using the toilet incorrectly to having too much sex, just how many of them apply to you?

1) Riding a bike down a busy street

According to researchers from Hasselt University in Belgium, riding a bike down a densely populated area is enough to increase the risk of a heart attack. Of all the modes of transport, cyclists are the most susceptible to breathing in air pollution. What’s more, as cyclists often put effort into peddling, they are more likely to suffer from anemia. Taking these factors into account, the risk of a heart attack while riding down a busy street becomes increasingly high.

2) Constipation and putting effort into getting it out

When you find yourself a little constipated, it’s easy to want to put effort into getting it all out, but this in itself poses quite a health risk. Firstly, it puts great strain on the body which causes a rapid increase in blood pressure. Secondly, the heart begins to work over time. As the blood pressure is in an unstable state, the risk of plaque from blood vessels becoming dislodged and blocking up other parts of the body, possibly causing a brain hemorrhage or heart attack, also increases. It is advised that when it comes to constipation, be careful not to exert any unnecessary stress and to take medicine to ease the condition.

3) Excessive consumption of alcohol or coffee

Moderate consumption of coffee or alcohol is thought to be good for you. However this can’t be said for over consumption. Drinking coffee or alcohol in large amounts not only increases the heart rate but also blood pressure, and it is enough to trigger a heart attack. Even more concerning is that when consumed over prolonged periods, it can lead to the deterioration of the muscles of the heart. This can ultimately result in heart failure.

4) Depression

Being in an emotionally insecure state is thought to affect the rhythm of the heart. Sleep deprivation through worry or stress prevents the heart from properly resting and causes an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. If left unattended it can lead to a heart attack. If there is something bothering you, it is recommended you speak to friends and family or health professionals to resolve the problem.

5) Excessive eating and drinking

Overeating increases the amount of blood needed to digest food. As a result, the blood supply to the brain and heart decreases. Any anemia suffers who overeat put themselves at a much higher risk of a heart attack or stroke. Prolonged overeating can not only cause an increase in weight but also, if you’re the inactive type, lead to a blocking of the blood vessels.

6) Over active sex life

A healthy sex life is thought to keep you young and healthy but overdoing it can cause a convulsion of the blood vessels through over excitement. This can then be responsible for a drop in blood circulation to the vital organs, which can lead to the onset of heart disease. Anyone suffering from heart conditions might be best to keep it on the moderate level.

7) Illegal drugs

Regular cocaine users are 23 times more likely to suffer from heart disease. Habitual users of the drug run the risk of starving their heart of its normal blood supply and increasing their blood pressure. Compared to non-users of the drug, cocaine users’ arteries are much stiffer. The walls of the heart also become much thicker.

8) Direct or passive smoking

Cases of someone suffering an instant death from breathing in tobacco smoke are generally unheard of, but both smokers and passive smokers alike increase their risk of heart damage considerably over time. So how would you’re health change if you were to quit right now? About eight hours after quitting, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood would return back to a normal level. After 24 hours, the risk of having a heart attack would also begin to decline. After a year, the risk of a heart attack would be halved. What’s more, after 15 years your internal organs would be as healthy as a non-smoker’s.

9) Excessive intake of sweet or salty/hot foods

Foods that are high in salt content are know to cause a rise in blood pressure, increase cholesterol and cause arteriosclerotic vascular disease. Also, consuming sweet things when you’re a child increases the risk of developing heart disease considerably in adult life.

10) Inactive lifestyle

Sitting at home or in an office all day long can also increase the risk of a sudden death. An inactive lifestyle causes the metabolism to slow down and reduces the amount of enzymes the body creates. There is also an increase in body fat. Eventually, the blood is likely to thicken and cause a deterioration in blood circulation which can see the formation of a blood clot and thus trigger a heart attack.

After reading this, how does your lifestyle compare? To sum it all up, plenty of sleep and a healthy diet are the key factors to preventing stress and the above types of problems. Death is something that can face any of us at any time, but avoiding the above 10 worst habits could go quite some way to helping us live a longer, healthier life.
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