An unhealthy and indulgent diet along with a lack of exercise is all it takes to damage the heart and heighten the risk for chronic and fatalistic heart ailments. However, there are countless other unhealthy habits and problems, such as sitting in front of the television all day and eating too much processed food, that we indulge in regularly, completely unbeknownst of how terribly they damage our heart.

We’ve picked out all these unhealthy habits along with smart changes that will boost the health of your heart.

Here, take a look:

1. Dental Ailments

Regular brushing and flossing is extremely essential to maintain a healthy heart and body. You see, individuals who suffer from gum disease tend to have a higher risk of developing heart ailments. Researchers aren’t entirely sure about the reason behind this correlation, however, experts believe that the bacteria that develops within the gums tends to move within the bloodstream, which causes the development of inflammation within the blood vessels, along with other heart ailments.

You can avoid these ailments with a regular brushing and flossing regime, along with regular check-ups with the dentist every 6 months. And if you notice the emergence of redness, soreness or a change in the formation of your teeth and gums, be sure to fix an appointment with your dentist right away.

2. Hepatitis C

This damaging liver infection causes an unnatural reduction in blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels, which still puts the patients of hepatitis C at a greater risk of developing heart ailments as opposed to those who don’t suffer from this disease.

Health experts believe that hepatitis C triggers inflammation within body cells and tissues, particularly those present within the heart. Be sure to visit your doctor for regular examinations to keep a close eye on damaging heart symptoms.

3. Insufficient Sleep

If you are regularly getting fewer than 6 hours of sleep each night, you are increasing your risk for developing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This will heighten your risk for developing countless ailments, primarily diabetes and obesity, both of which will put you at a greater risk for heart disease.

However, this doesn’t exactly mean that you should sleep throughout the day, because when the body spends more than 9 hours lying horizontally every single day, it increases the risk of developing diabetes and heart stroke.

The trick to maintain a healthy body, heart and mind is to enjoy at least 9 hours of sleep at night.

4. Traffic Delays

Who doesn’t hate a heavy traffic jam? We all do, for such situations expose our bodies and minds to heightened levels of stress, which is why researcher consider such situations as stressful and damaging for the heart.

Research reveals that spending an hour or more in traffic increases the risk factors of suffering a heart attack.

Moreover, heightened levels of noise pollution, which we normally hear on the road and the freeway, also tend to increase our risk for heart diseases. While one can’t eliminate traffic delays and jams from one’s life, one can always cut down stress by playing merry music or chatting with your passenger.

5. Snoring

Regular snoring or trying extra hard to gasp for air while sleeping is considered one of the earliest symptoms that signal the onset of heart disease. Chances are, you may be suffering from a serious condition, known as sleep apnea. It tends to occur when the airway gets partially blocked, which causes the sufferer to pause while breathing.

This breathing disorder is directly associated with symptoms, such as an irregular heartbeat, heightened blood pressure levels, heart failure and strokes.

You can improve your ability to breathe with regular treatments that also reduce the risks of heart disease.

6. Belly Fat

Having extra body weight puts an extra burden on your heart, but the weight around the midsection is particularly damaging and distressing. Basically, it triggers the body to generate certain chemicals and hormones that heighten blood pressure levels, and cast a negative impact on cholesterol levels and blood vessels.

Women with waistlines larger than 35 inches and men with waistlines greater than 40 inches have a greater risk of developing heart diseases. If you are one of these individuals, be sure to consult your doctor or nutritionist about an effective exercise and diet regime.

You can pick out several high-powered workouts, dance forms and even yoga to cut down belly fat and keep it off.

7. Irregular Working Hours

Working late at night or having inconsistently irregular working hours tend to heighten the risk factors that contribute to the development of a heart attack.

Researchers believe that shift work tends to negatively affect the circadian rhythm of the body, which also referred to as the internal clock. If you have an irregular working schedule, try to shift it around so you are only working during the day.

Be sure to adopt other heart-healthy habits, such as regular exercise, a wholesome and well-balanced diet, and regular visits to the doctor.

8. Unhappy Marriage

A healthy and blissful marriage boost the health of the heart and makes a person happy. Adults who are in a happy union tend to have a much lesser risk of heart disease as opposed to those who are not happy with their marriage. Researchers explain this as a result of heightened stress, which harms the health of the heart.

Basically, when the body is experienced high levels of stress, the person tends to make unhealthy dietary choices, and other unhealthy habits that are damaging for the heart, such as excessive drinking. Moreover, stress hormones also pose a threat to the health of the heart.

Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to your happiness and sort out your marital troubles with a considerate couples’ therapist or clergy member.