Heart disease continues to claim a life every three minutes worldwide, with coronary heart disease remaining the leading cause of heart attacks among both men and women. While diet and stress are often blamed, a growing conversation is shifting attention to an overlooked daily behaviour. A doctor has warned that a single morning habit may be responsible for nearly 90 percent of heart attacks.
The Habit Most People Ignore
Dr Sana Sadoxai, shared on Instagram that the danger begins immediately after waking. Remaining physically inactive in the morning, often moving straight from bed to phone to sitting, keeps the body in what she described as a low-movement, high-inflammation state.
This one habit secretly accelerates insulin resistance, belly fat accumulation, high blood pressure, silent inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” Dr Sadoxai said, adding that these factors sharply raise the risk of early heart attacks, particularly among people who are overweight or obese.
Why Morning Movement Matters
Dr Sadoxai stressed that even minimal activity can make a measurable difference. Just five to seven minutes of morning movement, such as brisk walking, stretching or breathing exercises, can boost circulation, activate metabolism and stabilise blood sugar levels.
“Your weight, your metabolism and your heart are deeply connected,” she noted in the video. Ignoring this connection, she warned, turns inactivity into a silent but serious cardiovascular threat.
Warning Signs Often Overlooked
Dr Sadoxai’s caution to people experiencing obesity, stubborn belly fat, breathlessness, diabetes or persistent fatigue. These, she said, are early metabolic warning signs that should not be dismissed, as they can precede cardiac events.
Her message resonated widely on social media, with users reflecting on how rushed, sedentary mornings have become routine in modern working life.
Understanding Heart Attacks and Hidden Symptoms
According to the Irish Heart Foundation, a heart attack, medically termed myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. While chest pain remains the most recognised symptom, the organisation notes that 10 to 15 percent of heart attack patients may show no symptoms at all. This is more common in older adults, women and people with diabetes, who may instead feel extreme tiredness, weakness, breathlessness or confusion.
The Irish Heart Foundation recommends reducing heart attack risk through smoking cessation, weight management, a low-fat, high-fibre diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. As Dr Sadoxai’s warning suggests, even a few active minutes each morning could be a lifesaving first step.