7 things your heart doctor wants you to stop doing immediately

Heart disease, the leading cause of death among American men and women, is responsible for one-fourth of all deaths. Although there are some risk factors of heart disease that can’t be changed, like age and family history, it is possible to decrease your risk.

Things we do every day, from the foods we eat to the activities we do, have an effect on your heart. Smoking, obesity, inactivity and an unhealthy diet all increase your risk of developing heart disease.

Eduardo Esper, MD, FACS, FCCP, a cardiothoracic, vascular and endovascular surgeon who did his cardiothoracic training at the University of Chicago and currently works with Terre Haute Regional Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, reveals some of the worst habits for your heart that doctors wish you’d kick.