By now, we should all be familiar with some of the most common risk factors for stroke and heart disease. To reiterate, some of these dangers are high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, and inactivity, to name a few. Read on to learn about some unusual cardiovascular disease risk factors you may not have known about before.

1.     Sleep Disorders

A higher risk of stroke and heart disease is associated with sleep disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, and other similar conditions. If you don't get enough sleep or wake up frequently, your blood pressure will rise, which can lead to high blood pressure. According to the National Sleep Foundation, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

2.      Migraines

Migraine headaches can cause blood vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow to the brain and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Women are more likely than men to have a stroke due to migraines. According to the American Migraine Foundation, women with migraines are three times more likely to have a stroke each year than women without migraines.

3.      Cars, Airplanes and Railroads

When the decibel level of traffic noise is between the decibels of an oncoming refrigerator and that of a pleasant conversation, an increase in blood pressure and an increased risk of heart failure can be expected. If the decibel level increases by 10 decibels, your risk of stroke and heart disease also increases. Some researchers believe it has to do with how your body responds to stress.

4.      Barn

Parents had a higher risk of heart disease than their children, and each child had a slightly increased risk. Since this is true for both sexes, it seems unlikely that biology is the source of the problem.

However, stroke and heart disease were more common in women who started menstruating before age 12 or stopped menstruating before age 47. Women who have miscarriage or surgical removal of their uterus or ovaries are at higher risk.

5.      Short

For every 2.5 inches below average height, the risk of heart disease increases by about 8%. In general, people with short stature tend to have unhealthy blood lipids. The mechanisms by which the body controls height, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol may be somewhat similar. Smaller people are also more likely to engage in unhealthy daily routines and behaviors.

6.      Loneliness

Having a small group of friends or being unhappy with your love life can increase your risk of stroke and heart disease, almost the same as secondhand smoke. High blood pressure and other negative effects of stress are associated with feelings of isolation. The best way to get to know your neighbors is to join a local hiking or running group. Exercise and social interaction are two effective ways to reduce your risk of heart disease.

7.      ADHD Medication

Taking stimulants like dextroamphetamine and methylphenidate can help you focus, but they can also increase your blood pressure and heart rate. This can eventually lead to heart problems. With your doctor's help, determine if the benefits of your ADHD medication outweigh any possible risks to your cardiovascular system.

8.      Length of working day

Working at least 55 hours per week increases the risk of heart disease compared to 35-40 hours. Several factors may play a role, including increased stress and sedentary times, and drinking more alcoholic beverages in general. You can ignore signs of illness and delay seeing your doctor. If you tend to work long hours, you should take extra precautions to prevent stroke and heart disease.

9.      Gum Disease

Several bacteria found in your mouth, especially those associated with periodontal disease, can enter your bloodstream and cause inflammation in the walls of your blood vessels, which can lead to the buildup of fat in your blood vessels (atherosclerosis). Studies have shown that treating gum disease can reduce blood levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP). When combined with cholesterol levels, doctors use it to predict "cardiovascular events," such as cardiac arrest.

10.   Difficult Upbringing

People's susceptibility to high blood pressure, weight gain and type 2 diabetes has been linked to their exposure to violence and abuse in childhood. Because of these health problems, you are more likely to develop heart disease. Stress in early life has the potential to change the way your body works. Feeling unsafe as a child can affect the way you live today.

11.   Flu 

According to a 2018 study, the rate of a heart attack in the week following a flu diagnosis was six times higher than in the year before and the year after. Doctors aren't sure what's causing the problem. Fighting infection can increase the viscosity and clotting potential of the blood. Inflammation is one possible explanation.

12.   Fuse short circuit

Anger increases the risk of cardiac arrest by about five times. The likelihood of a stroke or heart palpitations increases within two hours of an outbreak. You won't always be able to prevent or control what triggers you, so choose a strategy to deal with the anger of the moment and put out the flames as quickly as possible. If you find yourself getting angry a lot, you may want to consider taking an anger management class or counseling.

13.   Your education level

A 2016 study published in the International Journal of Health Equity found that the more years of education people completed, the lower their risk of heart disease. Adults without a college degree are more than twice as likely to have a heart attack than those with a college degree.

A decent education can affect heart health by affecting where you live, what type of job you do, your lifestyle choices and what you eat.

14.   Weightlifting

A growing body of research shows the importance of strength training for improving heart health, even if you're already familiar with the benefits of cardio. An experiment in the American Journal of Physiology found that just one interval of strength training can increase blood flow throughout the body.

A combination of cardio, strength training, and stretching is recommended, in part because all three can help you achieve maximum sustained effort while avoiding injury.