There are a few habits to which man is addicted. These habits are directly resulting in producing ill-effects on heart. These habits can be termed as addictions. These addictions which are harmful for heart include smoking, alcohol consumption, excess consumption of tea and coffee etc..... Apart from these addictions obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, voraciously eating, anger etc..... are the causes which produce harmful effects on heart. All these can be termed as enemies of heart. These enemies are responsible for causing heart diseases.

• SMOKING AND TOBACCO CHEWING:-
  

Smoking has a direct relation with heart. On each packet of cigarette a warning is written, 'smoking is injurious to health'. Studies have shown that people dying from heart attack are mainly active smokers. There are many ways of smoking. Cigarette, joint, bong, blunt are few very popular ways of smoking. Apart from these, cigar and pipe are also included in ways of smoking. Each and every person who smokes know that their this addiction will bring danger to their health. Even after being familiar with all the ill-effects and harms that smoking causes, people do not quit smoking. While smoking, a poison named nicotine enters in the body. This is a very powerful and active poison. It directly exerts its harmful effects on oral cavity, throat, lungs and heart. It is also seen that nicotine poison causes increased adrenaline production which will in turn increase fat concentration in blood and stiffen the blood vessels. In this way, direct effect of this poison is seen on the heart.

Smoking increases heart beat. Person often experiences pain in the heart, increased blood pressure and increased risk of heart attack too. While smoking, carbon-monoxide enters the body. This gas results in oxygen deficiency in body. Smokers are at high risk of developing heart attack when compared to non smokers. The more the number of cigarettes smoker smokes, the more he will be at risk of developing heart attack. Smoking results in stomach ulcers, gum diseases, pain in limbs, cancer and many such dangerous diseases. Smoking not only exerts its ill-effects on smokers in fact also on non smokers accompanying or standing near a person who is smoking. Such people are called as passive smokers.

Man's life is precious. Thus, one has to try to quit smoking as soon as possible. Smoking is seen gradually reducing in the countries like America, Canada, Britain etc..... As a result, patients dying from heart attack have also decreased in such countries. The most effective method to quit smoking is by developing firm will. Few smokers quit smoking and start consuming tobacco. They think that tobacco is less harmful than smoking. Their this thinking is right to some extent but tobacco consumption is also very harmful. If one wishes to protect themselves from heart attack than today itself they should quit smoking as well as tobacco chewing. Both of these are the biggest enemies of heart.

• TEA, COFFEE, COCOA ETC:-
  

Tea, coffee, cocoa etc..... are the drinks which excites certain parts of the brain. On consumption of these products heart beat increases. Coffee contains a product called caffeine which creates excitement in body and a person gets rid of his sleep for some time. Coffee also increases fat content in blood. This fat gets accumulated in wall of blood vessels and makes them rigid and constricted. As a result, heart needs to take a load to pump blood. This also increases blood pressure. These products do not contain any nutritious content. This is the reason one must not get addicted to these products.

• ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION:-
  

Alcohol consumption is also harmful to heart. All the hard drinks contain alcohol. Alcohol produces harmful effects on liver, heart, duodenum etc..... Excessive consumption of alcohol causes cirrhosis of liver. In world's majority of the countries, main cause of health related disorders is considered to be consumption of alcohol in more than the required amount. In our country too, every year many people die on consuming local home made alcohol.

• OBESITY:-

Obesity is the biggest enemy of heart. Obese individuals are at high risk of developing heart disease. It is also seen that in case of obese people, risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, swelling of limbs too increases.

Question is why does weight of an individual increases? The reason behind increase in weight is excessive consumption of calories. If we spend amount of calories equivalent to amount of calories we consume in a day then our weight will not increase. If we are not able to burn all the amount of calories consumed then our weight increases. Increase in weight results in decreased blood formation in body along with increased heart beat. Also obesity results a person to become lazy. Due to obesity, cholesterol deposits accumulate in blood vessels at a quick pace which will in turn increase the risk of developing heart attack. With the deposits of cholesterol, blood vessels become constricted and blood circulation through them will not take place adequately.

Ways of reducing obesity:-

There are 3 ways of reducing obesity:-

1. Following a good diet,
2. Exercise and 
3. Massage

Following a good diet:-

To keep weight regulated it is essential that we follow a good nutritious diet. Following things have to be taken care of which will help greatly in weight reduction:-

• Food should contain very less amount of fat or oil content.
• Diet should include more quantity of vegetable juices, salad, fruits, fruit juices and soups.
• If a person is a high blood pressure patient then he should reduce the intake of salt to a negligible amount. 
• Sugar should be consumed in very little amount.
• Milk free of cream should be consumed.
• 2-3 times in a day lemon juice can be taken.
• Number of chapatis in a single meal should not be more than 2-3.
• The most important thing regarding meals is that food should be consumed every day on the same time.
• Dry fruits, chocolate etc..... should not be consumed of if consumed should be in very little amount.
• If cholesterol amount is more in body than in order to reduce it, one should increase the intake of salad, onion, garlic etc.....

Exercise:-

Another method of reducing obesity is to exercise regularly. In today's life the best exercise is to walk especially in early morning. An individual initially should walk at a slow pace. There by gradually he can increase his speed. Heart patients should not go for a walk immediately after consumption of food. This exerts a load on heart. Among other exercises, yoga is very beneficial. In yoga, one can perform, surya namaskara, shavasana, chakrasana, vajrasana, makrasana etc..... These postures reduces obesity. Riding a bicycle daily is also a very good exercise.

Massage:-

Massaging body also decreases the obesity. While taking a bath in the morning, massage can be done with the help of wet towel for a duration of 10 minutes, particularly in those areas of body where fat or cellulose is accumulated. In the evening time, these fat accumulated areas should be subjected to dry massage which will enable the reduction of fat from these areas and overall weight reduction will take place. 2-3 times in a week hot water bath is also very beneficial.

• LAZY LIFE STYLE:-
  

A person lives two kinds of life styles. One is active and the other one is lazy. Active lifestyle means person puts his efforts and carries out home related and personal tasks. In doing this, blood circulation in his body remains adequate. People who love to live relaxed life, face inadequate blood circulation in their body. In such individuals, coronary artery which supply heart either gets blocked or becomes constricted. Such individuals are at high risk of developing heart attack. Lazy life style is a major cause of heart disease.

• MENTAL STRESS:-
  

Few individuals take lots of stress for their minor problems. In such individuals, mental stress and tension form an integral part of their lives. Mental stress contributes greatly in causing a harm to their physical health. In situations of excessive mental stress, patient may develop heart attack and may even face death. Mental stress is a cause for increase in blood pressure and heart beat too increases. It also results in complains of gastric troubles and constipation. Patient also complains of insomnia. All these exerts dangerous effects on heart and patient is at increased risk of developing heart diseases. To keep heart healthy, it becomes essential for us to live a tension free and stress free life.

• ANGER AND FEAR:-
  

The more the amount of temper a person loses, more pressure gets exerted on his heart. Anger increases heart beats and breathlessness develops. It creates difficulties in digestive system and as a result acidity develops in stomach. Fear also is a cause for sudden cease in working of the heart. In this way, both anger and fear are enemies of heart.

• LONELY LIFE:-
  

Few individuals spend lonely life. Entertainment, humor, celebrations neither have any importance nor form a part of their lives. This increases mental stress in them and this mental stress increases the incidence of heart diseases. To keep heart healthy, a person should mingle well with the society and live happily.

• EXCESSIVE INTAKE OF MEDICINES:-

Few individuals love to live on medicines. They depend on medicines to correct even slightest of any sort of disorders formed in their body. Medicines exert harmful effects on heart. Also, heart needs to work more to pump blood in the arteries. As a result, heart beat increases and patient develops a complain of high blood pressure. Excessive intake of medicines and their side effects can also result in development of heart diseases.

• HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:-
  

High blood pressure is the worst enemy of heart. High blood pressure results when arteries become constricted or rigid. Walls of arteries thickens due to deposition of fat in them and as a result their flexibility decreases. In such situations, heart needs to pump blood in body with lots of pressure. High blood pressure patients suffer from increased risk of developing heart attack.

Usually, blood pressure is considered to be normal when it reads 120/80. Individuals above 40 years of age have blood pressure which reads 140/90 and this is appropriate for their age. High blood pressure has many causes. Few individuals develop high blood pressure as a result of hereditary factors. Majority of the people suffering from high blood pressure develop it due to deposition of cholesterol in arteries which in turn will result in rigidity of arteries. Few individuals become high blood pressure patients without any cause. Excessively obese individuals may also suffer from high blood pressure. Mental stress is also a cause for it. High blood pressure patients are at three times more high risk of facing death then individuals having normal blood pressure.

High blood pressure can be controlled by following methods:-

• High blood pressure patients should consume salt as little as possible. With decreased intake of salt, high blood pressure decreases and returns to its normal range.
• High blood pressure patients should consume less amount of fat, butter ghee etc..... and should try their best to avoid weight from increasing.
• If blood pressure is high then with the advice of doctor, proper medicines should be taken to keep it under control. With the increase in blood pressure, size of heart too increases.
• High blood pressure patients should keep the mind calm and should reduce the mental stress. He should always live stress-free, tension-free and happily.
• High blood pressure patients should perform breathing exercises for at least 15 to 20 minutes in a day.

Following are the common symptoms seen in case of high blood pressure:-

• Frequent losing of temper.
• Headache,
• Heaviness in breath experienced on walking at a fast pace,
• Tiredness,
• Dizziness

One should be familiar with the fact that initially, no signs are seen in high blood pressure patients. Thus, patients comes to know about his increased blood pressure only at some later stage. High blood pressure is enemy of heart. Thus, it becomes essential to keep it under control. High blood pressure can result in brain hemorrhage which can in turn result in death. It can result in paralysis. It can even cause kidney disorders.

• DIABETES:-

For heart diseases, diabetes is a dangerous disorder. Patients suffering from diabetes are at high risk of suffering form heart attack.

In our body, pancreas produces insulin hormone which is very essential as it regulates the sugar content in blood. If insulin is not secreted in adequate amount then blood glucose level increases. This condition is known as diabetes. Diabetes weakens the body the way wood eating moth weakens the wood. Each and every individual should be aware and conscious about this disease.

Causes of diabetes are:-

1. Hereditary factors:- If mother-father, grand parents are suffering from diabetes, it is very likely that kids too in near future will get affected from it.
2. Obesity:- For diabetes, obesity is a major cause. It is usually seen that patients who are diabetics are also obese.
3. Diet:- It is very common that eating habits are responsible for causing diabetes to a very large extent. Individuals who eat more and one who consumes excessive sweets will get affected from diabetes.
4. Stress:- Mental stress and tension are major causes of diabetes.
5. Effects of medicines:- There are certain medicines which when taken for a long time can impart ill-effects on pancreas. These medicines include medicines which causes increased urination, oral contraceptives, hormones associated with thyroid etc.....

Since diabetes is a serious disorder, thus in order to protect ourselves from it we should eat balanced nutritious food. Patients should eat less amount of sugar, fat and carbohydrate rich products. Weight has to be brought into control. It is responsibility of diabetic patient to perform proper physical work and regular exercises. Mind has to be kept stress free. This is very essential in case of diabetes. Simple living is the best life style to avoid or get rid of diabetes.

To treat diabetes, today many medicines are available. Under the supervision of good doctor, diabetic patient should keep blood sugar level under control with the means of diet and medicines as prescribed by him. By controlling the level of sugar in blood, diabetic patient can spend healthy life.

• INCREASED FAT CONTENT IN BLOOD:-
  

Increased fat content in blood is a dangerous condition of heart. With the increase in fat content in blood, blood vessels stiffen as cholesterol deposits in the inner side of the walls. Thus, heart needs to pump excess of blood which will exert extra load on heart. As a result, either person becomes affected by high blood pressure or may also develop heart attack. There are medicines available which can reduce the level of cholesterol. Best method to control cholesterol is to eat fat deficient diet. As much as possible, fruits and vegetables should be incorporated in meals. Banana, apple etc..... have properties to reduce cholesterol. Fine flour should not be used to make chapatis, it should be little grainy as well as should contain some amount of husk in it. Onion and garlic when consumed on regular basis seem to reduce cholesterol level. Oil and ghee should be consumed as little as possible.

• IMPROPER DIET:-
  

A good balanced diet can gift us a long healthy life whereas unbalanced, improper diet can take away from us our precious life. Diet is directly related with heart. Individuals who eat excessive amount of fat, protein and carbohydrates are miserably playing with their heart. Excessively oily foods act like a poison to our heart. Food rich in spices, excessively sweet, cold drinks available in markets are all dangerous to heart. There are few people who keep eating one or the other thing throughout the day the way goat rears on grass. These people are exerting harmful effects on their hearts.

To keep heart healthy we have to consume ghee, butter, cheese, sweets, fat rich meat, dry fruits etc..... in very less amount. Our diet should be simple and light. It should include less spices and more amount of fruits and vegetables. Milk which is free of cream is very beneficial. We can keep ourselves healthy with good balanced nutritious diet.

• DISORDERS OF LUNGS, KIDNEYS AND SKIN:-
  

If a person is suffering form any of the disorders of lungs, kidneys or skin then he is likely to get affected from heart disorder too. Reason behind this is that lungs, kidneys and skin all help in the purification of blood. If even one of these get affected from disorder then blood will not get purified. Impure blood is very dangerous to heart.

To keep skin healthy, following precautions have to be taken:-

• To keep skin disease free, person has to bath daily and after bath, body has to be dried properly with clean towel.
• On daily basis, skin has to be exposed to sun for some time. This will help in the adequate formation of vitamin D in the body.
• Clothes which come in direct contact with skin should be mainly cotton. Nylon or silk exerts harmful effects on skin.
• Each and every individual on daily basis should exercise regularly which will help him to sweat. This will open up the pores of the skin through which wastes will get excreted from it.

To keep lungs healthy, following precautions have to be taken:-

• To keep lungs healthy, we have to breath in open air.
• Taking long and deep breaths are beneficial for lungs.
• Lungs have to be gradually filled with air and very slowly air should be expelled out. This exercise if performed in an open area or park can keep lungs healthy.
• It is essential to keep nose and throat clean. This will rule out any interference in breathing.

To keep kidneys healthy, following precautions have to be taken:-

• Person should drink sufficient amount of water in a day.
• Excessively protein rich products like meat, fish, egg etc..... should not be consumed in more amount.
• Light exercises keep kidneys healthy.
• Liquid foods keep kidneys free from impurities and urine passes out properly. Thus, more amount of liquid based foods should be consumed.

These three organs if kept healthy, risk of suffering from heart diseases decreases.

• OTHER CAUSES OF HEART DISEASES:-

Patients having increased level of blood urea are at high risk of developing heart diseases. Increased level of iron in blood is also responsible for heart diseases. Thus, it is essential to avoid the level of iron in blood from increasing. New facts associated with heart diseases are known today. It is seen that heart diseases in men is more when compared with women. Individuals living in soft water areas are more commonly affected from heart diseases when compared with individuals living in hard water areas.