4 lifestyle habits that can cause heart attacks over time, according to a cardiologist

Causes of heart attack (Image: Pexels)

• Poor sleep, stress, and unhealthy meals raise heart attack risk
• Small lifestyle habits can harm heart health over time
• Prevention starts with healthy routines, not just medication

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Heart attacks don’t happen overnight. They are a consequence of poor lifestyle choices made repeatedly. While most think that being over-productive and sleeping for fewer hours is harmless, it is far from the truth. Over time, these begin to affect your body and overall health.

In his new post on Instagram, Dr Sanjay Bhojraj, a California-based cardiologist with over two decades of experience, shared his observations about people who suffer from heart attacks. There are certain lifestyle habits he holds responsible, including stress, sleep, and meals.

“In my experience, most heart attacks start with this routine,” he wrote, sharing the list:

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A post shared by Sanjay Bhojraj, MD | Integrative Cardiologist (@doctorsanjaymd)

• Late nights: Staying up due to work, blue screens, or parties
• Chronic stress: Worrying excessively about work, finances, or personal life
• Grab-and-go meals: Picking packaged foods for convenience, devoid of nutrition
• Sleep getting shorter each year: Prioritising productivity over bedtime

Dr Bhojraj added that they may not look like big dramatic decisions, but just small tradeoffs that slowly become normal, however, they don’t help long-term. Gradually, they begin to show in blood tests.

“Over time, those patterns start showing up in the labs: blood pressure creeping upward year after year, blood sugar becoming less stable, and triglycerides climbing as metabolism struggles to keep up.”

While none of these problems looks dangerous or “urgent” in the moment, they hint at bigger problems and put strain on the cardiovascular system. Thus, it’s important to break these habits in time.

“This is why prevention in cardiology rarely starts with a single medication. It starts with patterns,” he said, pointing out the need for proper sleep, stress management, and healthy eating to stay disease-free.

“Most people aren’t reckless with their health. They’re just busy. But the body keeps track of those patterns, whether we’re paying attention or not. And by the time someone lands in my office, those patterns have usually been building for years,” he concluded.

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.