Every three minutes, someone in the UK dies from heart disease, with coronary heart disease being the leading cause of heart attacks. A doctor has warned that 90% of heart attacks can be traced back to a common morning habit: staying still after waking up.
Dr Sana Sadoxai, a TikTok doctor with over 42,000 followers, explained that moving from bed to phone to sitting and then rushing out keeps the body in a low-movement, high-inflammation state. This habit accelerates insulin resistance, belly fat accumulation, high blood pressure, silent inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, all of which increase the risk of early heart attacks, especially in overweight or obese individuals.
She recommends five to seven minutes of morning movement, such as brisk walking, stretching, or breathing exercises, to boost circulation, activate metabolism, stabilise sugar levels, and protect the heart. Ignoring this habit, she says, is a silent threat.
According to the NHS, a heart attack occurs when blood supply to the heart is blocked, often by a blood clot. In the UK, around 100,000 hospital admissions annually are due to heart attacks. Symptoms include chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness, or squeezing, as well as pain in other areas, shortness of breath, nausea, and anxiety.
The NHS advises calling 999 immediately if a heart attack is suspected. While waiting, a 300mg aspirin tablet may help if the person is not allergic. Long-term prevention includes quitting smoking, losing weight, eating a low-fat, high-fibre diet, and doing at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.
