Consume meals high in salt
Sodium is an essential mineral that supports regulating fluid balance, maintaining nerve function and muscle contraction. Although the body needs a certain amount of sodium to function normally, regularly consuming too much salt will cause blood pressure to rise - which is a risk factor leading to stroke.
Drinking a lot of alcohol
Alcohol and beer abuse is directly related to high blood pressure, causing impairment of blood vessel health and increasing inflammatory reactions in the body.
In addition, the habit of drinking alcohol in the evening also disrupts nighttime sleep. Prolonged sleep disorders not only affect life expectancy but also significantly increase the risk of stroke.
Consume more added sugar from snacks
Feeling hungry before dinner easily makes many people turn to snacks or soft drinks. However, this group of foods rapidly increases the amount of added sugar consumed daily, thereby increasing the risk of being overweight, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure - the foundations leading to stroke.
Instead of choosing processed sweets, prioritize light snacks rich in protein, fiber or healthy fats to maintain a feeling of fullness for longer. You can combine fruits with Greek yogurt, fresh cheese or enjoy unsalted nuts to protect cardiovascular health.
Continuous passive sitting
After a working day, the habit of sitting still all evening on the sofa will lose the opportunity to strengthen cardiovascular health. Interrupting long sitting times helps improve blood circulation, supports blood sugar control and protects cardiovascular and brain function.
You should actively exercise with small movements such as short walks before or after dinner, doing stretching exercises while watching TV or doing housework. These simple physical activities, when accumulated regularly, will bring lasting and easier-to-maintain effects than irregular high-intensity exercises.
