HAVING LOTS OF BROTHERS

Lower levels of testosterone are clearly linked to an increased risk of heart disease, says Dr Grainger. And if your mother had many sons before you, you’re more likely to have been exposed to male testosterone in the womb, causing you to have lower levels yourself as an adult.

‘It’s still not clear why, but it may be that exposure to testosterone in the womb somehow “resets” your body’s natural level to a lower point.’

Growing up with lots of siblings also raises your risk of a bug that can cause heart attacks.

The common and often symptomless infection helicobacter pylori is thought to promote inflammation in the body.

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‘And like many long-term infections, it’s thought your chances of contracting it are greater if you have lots of brothers or sisters,’ says Dr Grainger.

This is because it can be spread by saliva contact.

‘It’s a controversial link, but there are too many suggestive studies to ignore it completely.’

In a small study published in the journal Heart, patients with atrial fibrillation (a faulty heart rhythm) were around 20 times as likely to test positive for helicobacter pylori as the healthy volunteers.

GOING TO BED AFTER MIDNIGHT

Bad news for night owls: your risk of heart disease may be increased, even if you do get seven hours’ sleep once in bed.

Researchers from the Misao Health Clinic in Japan found that men who went to bed after midnight developed significantly stiffer arteries than those who hit the sack before midnight.

It’s thought that people who go to bed later are more stressed and are more likely to stay up late drinking alcohol, smoking or eating fatty, sugary foods — all bad for hearts.

ADULTERY

While it’s well-known that regular sex can be good for the heart, researchers at the University of Florence have discovered that married men who cheated on their partners increased their risk of a heart attack.

One reason may be that men who embark on extra-marital affairs may have an unhappy home life, and depression has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Conversely, being in a happy relationship seems to protect men from cardiovascular events, they found.

Wonder water: In a study, men and women who drink more than five glasses of water a day were less likely to die from a heart attack

DEHYDRATION

Californian researchers studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women and found that those who drink more than five glasses of water a day are less likely to die from a heart attack or heart disease than those who drink fewer than two glasses a day.

The theory is that dehydration thickens the blood, which increases the risk of heart attack. ‘Basically, not drinking enough water can be as harmful to your heart as smoking or not exercising,’ said lead researcher Jacqueline Chan.

HOT FLUSHES

Women who go through an early menopause run twice the risk of a heart attack in later life, according to scientists at the University of Alabama.

In a study of 2,500 women, those whose periods stopped early were more prone to heart disease (in the UK, the average age of the menopause is 51).

The increased risk is because the hormone oestrogen has a protective effect on the heart, and levels decline after the menopause, explains Anna Dominiczak, Regius professor of medicine at the University of Glasgow.

‘However, this counts only when oestrogen is in its natural form, rather than hormone replacement therapy,’ she adds. ‘Synthetic versions of oestrogen have not shown the same protective effect.’

CREASED EARLOBES

A study in the British Heart Journal discovered many people who died suddenly from cardiovascular problems were found to have creases on their earlobes.

Swedish researchers also found that more than 80 per cent of people under the age of 40 who had succumbed to coronary artery disease had earlobe creases. One theory is that creases occur as a result of malformed blood vessels, which may also be true of those supplying the heart.

However, other scientists argue the likelihood of creases rises with age, as does the risk of heart disease, and the two are unrelated.

REFUSING A FLU JAB

There are more heart attacks in November, December and January, says Dr David Grainger, senior research fellow at Cambridge University.

‘This has been linked to the increased number of illnesses and infections we suffer during the winter months, which increase inflammation in the body,’ he says. ‘If you have heart disease, a flu vaccination will reduce this risk.’

Another reason for more heart attacks occurring in winter is because cold weather causes our arteries to tighten, raising blood pressure, adds Steven Griffin, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull.

UNPROTECTED SEX

Chlamydia, the sexually transmitted infection that can affect both men and women, may trigger heart disease, according to Canadian research.

Scientists found that chlamydia can cause the immune system to malfunction, leading to inflammation of the heart. This inflammation in turn leads to hardening of the arteries, which can cause a heart attack.

Research is increasingly showing that inflammation in the body plays a key role in heart disease and cancer.

Worryingly, the number of cases of chlamydia among British women over 45 has shot up 95 per cent in nine years, according to figures released last year by the Family Planning Association.

LIVING ALONE

This doubles the risk of severe heart disease compared with living with a partner, Danish research suggests.

Scientists studied data on more than 138,000 adults and found women over 60 and men over 50 living alone had an increased risk of problems such as heart attacks. They said habits such as smoking and a poor diet are more common among those who live alone.

GETTING UP TOO QUICKLY

Lying in bed until the last possible moment could increase your risk of a heart attack if you already have cardiovascular problems, says Mr Griffin.

‘Any tablets that control blood pressure or angina you took the day before will have worn off by the morning, so don’t get up and start rushing around.

‘I often advise my patients to set their alarm an hour before they need to get up, take their tablets and then go back to sleep. That way, when you do get up, the medication has kicked in.’

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