Threats to the heart in the morning: what not to do immediately after waking up with hypertension and high cholesterol

Morning is a critical time for heart health, especially if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. The fact is that immediately after waking up, the body experiences a natural morning surge: the pulse and blood pressure increase - so the body prepares for active activity. Russian phlebologist Maxim Abasov told what morning habits can lead to problems with the cardiovascular system.

According to Maxim Abasov, high blood pressure is often asymptomatic, but it remains a serious threat. Regularly monitoring your blood pressure and understanding your risk factors are simple but crucial steps to keep you healthy.

What to Avoid in the Morning

Strong coffee and smoking

As Maxim Abasov noted, a cup of coffee with a high caffeine content can temporarily raise blood pressure and increase heart rate:

- For people with sensitive hearts or pre-existing medical conditions, this can be risky. Smoking is even more dangerous: nicotine narrows blood vessels, provokes pressure jumps and worsens blood flow in the coronary arteries. Combining these habits in the morning puts a serious strain on the heart. At the same time, quitting smoking gives noticeable improvements after 20 minutes: blood pressure and pulse begin to normalize. After 3 months, blood circulation and lung function improve, and a year later the risk of heart disease is reduced by half.

Fat and fried meals for breakfast

According to a phlebologist, bacon, sausages, muffins, fried bread and other foods with saturated and trans fats can dramatically increase blood fat levels:

- Trans fats are especially dangerous: they not only increase the level of “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins), but also reduce the level of “good” (high-density lipoproteins). In addition, many such foods contain a lot of sodium, which retains fluid in the body and increases pressure.

Intense stress and stress immediately after waking up

- In the morning, the body still adapts from rest to wakefulness, and the additional load may be excessive. Sharp pressure surges at this time increase the risk of stroke. High-intensity exercise after poor sleep can increase levels of troponin, a stress marker for the heart. Emotional stress (arguments, severe disturbances) also creates an extra load on the vessels, explained Maxim Abasov.

Hidden threat: how to recognize the withdrawal of the clot by the symptoms