According to the World Health Organization, heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 16 percent of deaths from all causes.

More people are killed by heart disease today than ever before, with the number of deaths from heart disease rising by more than two million since 2000, with nearly nine million deaths in 2019.

Heart disease can cause heart attacks, angina and some strokes, especially if left untreated.

Therefore, regular examinations of the heart are essential and any changes should be reported to the GP if there are possible signs of an underlying disease.

A few lifestyle changes can help keep the heart in better shape. Therefore, doctors suggest that we should avoid five things to protect heart health.

First: smoking and electronic smoking

One of the best things you can do for your heart is to quit smoking, even if you don’t smoke at all, and avoid secondhand smoke.

The chemicals in tobacco can harm your heart and blood vessels. Cigarette smoke reduces oxygen in the blood, which increases blood pressure and heart rate because the heart has to work harder to supply your body and mind with enough oxygen.

Most heart attacks in young women are caused by smoking, says cardiologist Nicole Harkin.

Second: Ignore the chest pain

While some people treat chest pain and fatigue as nothing more than a nuisance, Dr. Harkin says it’s important not to dismiss chest pain as a low-risk symptom.

A “shocking” number of heart attacks occur in people considered low risk on traditional screening criteria, he says.

Third: Eat more processed meat

Regular consumption of processed meats such as bacon, hot dogs, burgers and luncheon meats has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease because fats put pressure on the arteries.

Fourth: Ignore family medical history

Ignoring a family history of heart problems often puts young people in the hospital for heart attacks.

Doctors recommend that people at high risk of heart disease talk to their doctor for regular check-ups.

Fifth: Not sleeping

Research has found that lack of sleep increases the risk of heart attack, with those who sleep less than six hours a night having a 20 percent higher risk of heart attack.