I’m a Cardiologist, and This ‘Relaxing’ Habit Is Actually Harming Your Heart Health
I’m a Cardiologist, and This ‘Relaxing’ Habit Is Actually Harming Your Heart Health originally appeared on Parade.
Real talk: We all desperately need to unwind. There’s a lot going on these days! But cardiologists are ringing alarm bells that one particular habit that many of us mistakenly believe is relaxing can do serious harm to our heart health—and chances are, it’s not what you think.
By now, you know the risks of smoking, vaping, drinking alcohol and even of eating your feelings, but there’s another habit that, for some, can border on addiction and do similar damage to our bodies and brains alike.
The ‘Relaxing’ Habit Cardiologists Warn Is Hurting Your Heart Health
We hate to be the ones to break this to you, because you literally may be doing it right now—but scrolling endlessly on your phone may be wreaking havoc not just on your mental health, but also on your physical wellbeing, cardiologists warn.
Related: Never Do This After Eating a Salty Meal, Cardiologists Warn
The Dangers of Scrolling in the Morning
Doomscrolling is especially dangerous if it’s how you start your day.
“When you check your phone first thing, you’re essentially outsourcing your focus—and often to things that spike anxiety or comparison,” Dr. Alexandra Kharazi, MD, FACS, cardiothoracic surgeon at Southern California Surgical, tells Parade. “That quick scroll can delay movement, cut into time you’d use for intentional routines, and push you into a reactive state. It’s not neutral.”
Miami-based cardiologist Dr. Leonard Pianko, MD, agrees.
“Scrolling through your feed can cause anxiety, which promotes your fight or flight hormones and an increase in your blood pressure,” Dr. Pianko told us. “High blood pressure can force your heart to work harder, which can raise your risk of coronary heart disease.”
Related: ‘I Swapped Doomscrolling for Daily Affirmations—Here’s What Actually Changed in 7 Days’
You know those times when you start scrolling through reels and TikTok videos and then realize you’ve been falling down rabbit holes for an hour or two (or more)? That’s real, and it can do a number on your health.
“Excessive internet use and screen time can negatively affect heart health by increasing sedentary behavior,” Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board-certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California, advises. “This can then increase the risks of cardiometabolic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.”
So, scrolling first thing in the morning is bad news. What about before bed? (Oh come on, you know what we’re about to tell you.)
“Doomscrolling before bedtime can cause poor sleep,” Dr. Chen reminds us. “If your sleep is disrupted and you start scrolling, it could further impact your sleep. Lack of sleep can raise your risk of heart disease.”
Related: Cardiologists Say Adding This to Your Lunch May Lower Blood Pressure
The Biggest Danger of Doomscrolling
Dr. Kharazi has a loud and clear warning about doomscrolling: It’s bad for you. And there’s one over-arching reason why it can impact heart health: “Over time, scrolling becomes a pattern of neglecting habits that do protect your heart—like exercise, sleep hygiene and stress regulation.”
According to Dr. Kharazi, making scrolling a habit can also mean:
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You’re less likely to get up and move.
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You might eat while scrolling, which disconnects you from hunger and fullness cues.
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You’re more likely to absorb misinformation about diet, supplements or quick fixes from non-credible sources—especially on social media.
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Chronic low-level stress from doomscrolling or comparisons may create a perfect storm for long-term vascular damage.
Related: Unclog Arteries Naturally With These 7 Plaque-Fighting Foods
How To Mitigate and Manage Scrolling To Protect Your Heart Health
Knowing the risks of doomscrolling and endless scrolling on our heart health is half the battle. Now, how can we win the war?
Be cognizant of how scrolling hurts your heart
“From a cardiovascular perspective, we are still in the early phases of understanding the adverse impacts of endless scrolling or ‘doomscrolling,'” Dr. Paul Bhella, MD, FACC, FAHA, FASE, cardiologist and professor of medicine at Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University, tells us. “However, these activities have been linked to increases in anxiety, depression, insomnia and psychological stress.”
We know that these conditions increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, he explains—specifically, the risk of a heart attack or developing heart failure. “In addition, endless scrolling distracts us from engaging in heart-healthy activities such as exercise, which we know are so positively impactful on the human body. So setting boundaries on endless scrolling such as time limits, avoiding social media right before we go to bed and curating our feeds to minimize negativity is critically important.”
Related: This One Diet Tweak Boosts Bone and Heart Health After 60
Don’t scroll in bed
Whether it’s when you first wake up or when you’re turning down to sleep, it’s going to mess up your day (or your next day). “Your phone isn’t the enemy. But your heart was never built for constant alerts, infinite scroll or waking up to 27 things demanding your attention,” Dr. Kharazi says. “Guard your mornings. Guard your mind. Your heart will thank you.”
Related: Cardiologists Say This Bedtime Is Linked to Lower Heart Attack Risk
Replace or stack your scrolling habit with a healthier one
“Replace the morning scroll with movement or sunlight,” Dr. Kharazi suggests. You can also stack your habits instead of cutting them out completely—so feel free to scroll a bit in the morning, but only while you’re on the elliptical or your Peloton. Combining something you enjoy (like laughing at silly TikTok dances) with something that feels like a chore (getting your steps in) can be a good compromise.
Related: How Many Days You Actually Need to Exercise For Better Health
Set time limits and boundaries
“To reduce the impact of excessive internet use on our health, it is best to set boundaries and limits on our screen time,” Dr. Chen says. “Instead, this time could be replaced by healthy alternatives such as exercising or spending face-to-face time with family and friends.”
Related: This Common Habit Could Be Harming Your Heart Health, According to Scientists
Put your phone away while you’re eating
“Eat undistracted. Scrolling while eating disengages your brain from your body, which affects digestion and weight regulation—two key factors in heart health,” Dr. Kharazi says. (Plus, if you’re dining with others, it’s just rude!)
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Related: We Asked 3 Cardiologists About Their Go-to 5-Minute Habit for Heart Health and They All Had the Exact Same Answer
Sources:
I’m a Cardiologist, and This ‘Relaxing’ Habit Is Actually Harming Your Heart Health first appeared on Parade on Jun 7, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
