When it comes to heart health, you don’t want to skip a beat.
The leading cause of death for adults in the US, heart disease claims a life every 34 seconds and strains the healthcare system to the tune of $168 billion, according to the CDC.
Aside from the obvious lifestyle interventions like getting more exercise, quitting smoking and following a diet low in ultra-processed foods, quadruple board-certified cardiologist Dr. Tiffany Di Pietro tells The Post that several unexpected tweaks can have tangible effects on heart health.
After sharing her favorite supplements, Di Pietro reveals four surprising heart-healthy activities that can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Sauna and heat exposure (if medically appropriate)
Take it from the Finns: A schvitz here and there is good for the ticker.
“Regular sauna bathing is associated with lower rates of fatal cardiovascular events in observational data,” says Di Pietro, a Qunol partner.
Though there’s no proof of direct causation, “it’s compelling and fits with physiologic effects” of relaxation, like lowering blood pressure and contributing to vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels.
In Finland — home to 5.5 million people and 3.3 million saunas — contrast therapy, or extreme cold paired with extreme heat, is deeply ingrained in the national culture.
And while scientific research has produced mixed results on the benefits and risks, an observational Canadian-Finnish study that used data collected over 20 years showed a promising link between sauna use and benefits to respiratory health, dementia and cardiovascular health.
But saunas aren’t suitable for everyone, Di Pietro warns. Anyone with unstable angina, valvular heart disease, a recent heart attack or certain blood pressure issues should talk with their doctor before hitting the spa.
Excellent oral hygiene
Your dentist will love this one: Better oral hygiene is emerging as an important factor in heart health.
According to Harvard Medical School, people with gum disease, tooth loss or other poor oral health have higher rates of heart attack or stroke than those with good oral health.
Indeed, “periodontal disease is strongly associated with higher cardiovascular risk,” Di Pietro explained, though the exact reasons are still being studied.
One theory blames gingivitis-causing bacteria, which travels to other parts of the body and can cause inflammation in the blood vessels that might lead to blood clots, heart attack and stroke.
Regardless, Di Pietro said, “oral health is a surprisingly meaningful ‘heart’ lever.”
More social connection
Party hearty?
Dr. Crystal Wiley Cené — a professor of clinical medicine and chief administrative officer for health equity, diversity and inclusion at UC San Diego Health — has noted that “over four decades of research has clearly demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness are both associated with adverse health outcomes.”
Loneliness and isolation, which are clinically defined as separate phenomena, can also have serious implications for brain health as people age.
“Clinicians should ask patients about the frequency of their social activity and whether they are satisfied with their level of interactions with friends and family,” Cené said. “They should then be prepared to refer people who are socially isolated or lonely — especially those with a history of heart disease or stroke — to community resources to help them connect with others.”
Di Pietro concurs. “’Standing weekly coffee date’ can be as ‘medical’ as a supplement sometimes,” she said.
Laughing (yes, really)
It might not be the best medicine, but it certainly comes close.
In addition to having benefits for mental health, “small studies suggest mirthful laughter can improve vascular function and endothelial measures — likely via stress-hormone and nitric oxide pathways,” Di Pietro said.
Dr. Karthikeyan Ananth, a cardiologist with Henry Ford Health, recently put it this way: “When you are angry, your body releases stress hormones that can cause inflammation and increase clotting of blood and spasms of arteries. These events can sometimes trigger heart attacks.
“Similarly, when you are anxious or chronically under physical or mental stress, these stress hormones release chemicals to the body that promote vascular dysfunction and increase your risk of heart disease in the long term.”
Laughter, however, undoes a lot of the harm associated with stress.
“It’s not a replacement for core prevention,” Di Pietro clarified, “but it’s a real physiologic effect.”
