5 Unusual Risk Factors for Heart Disease 

By now, we should all know some of the common risk factors of heart disease and stroke. To reiterate, some of these risk factors are high blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, high cholesterol and so on. Keep reading to learn some unusual risk factors of heart disease that you may not have heard of before.

Sleep Disorders

• • Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia and more, are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Not getting enough sleep at night, or waking up often while sleeping can increase your blood pressure and cause hypertension. Hypertension is one of the major risk factors of heart disease and stroke, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

Migraines

• • Migraines can narrow your blood vessels, causing less blood flow to your brain resulting in increased risk for stroke and heart disease. A migraine related stroke is more common in women rather than men. Studies have found that the yearly risk of stroke in women with migraines is about three times that of women without migraines, according to the American Migraine Foundation

Height

• • The shorter you are, the more likely you are to have a heart attack or stroke, according to the Cleveland Clinic. This is all because of your genes. Recent studies have shown that the same genes that make you shorter also make you more likely to have increased “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides.

Loneliness

• • Loneliness can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. One reason may be linked to the stress that comes with being alone. People who are alone do not have anyone to talk to and help them regulate their emotions, according to Harvard Health.

Gum Disease

• • A recent article done by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health found that gum disease increases a person’s risk of heart disease by 20 percent. This is because gum disease causes inflammation of the gums and bacteria, which can eventually lead to narrowing of arteries.