The holidays are a time to celebrate with families and friends. Many people choose to gather around a dinner table and share a meal with their loved ones. While some families are conscious of what food is served, many individuals view this season as one for imbibing in richer foods than they normally would. Irregular eating habits can lead to problems for your heart, however. Read below for a list of how your heart can remain healthy during the holidays, and contact ReactDx, leaders in mobile cardiac telemetry, for more information on how diet, health, and fitness lead to better heart function.
- Stick with a daily exercise plan: Wake up half an hour early and walk around the neighborhood, or hit the gym a few days a week. Burning excess calories will compensate for good eating, and strengthen your heart’s muscles.
- If you know a heavy dinner is on today’s menu, eat a light, healthy meal for breakfast and lunch. Snacks are abundant at this time of year; use good judgment consuming these tasty calories.
- Sugar, animal fat, and salt are three ingredients added to holiday dishes with great abundance. All these ingredients are troubling for those with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular disease.
- Secondhand smoke may enter your life at this time more than any other since you may be a guest or host of many parties with guests you do not see frequently. Secondhand smoke, either from cigarettes or cigars, is dangerous for anyone with a history of heart disease; ask those you invite to smoke outside or refrain from smoking when you are in the vicinity.
- Social events flourish during the holiday season. Remember to take time for yourself and rest. Attending every event without allowing yourself to recuperate is difficult for your heart, especially if you are normally not as social.
- Stick with your New Year’s resolution throughout the year, whether it is to visit your doctor regularly for check-ups, check your blood pressure daily, exercise at least three times a week, walk every day, sleep six to eight hours every night, or all of these!
Doctors have noted that December and January are peak heart attack months because of a change in diet, exercise routine, sleep habits, and alcohol intake. Unfortunately, many of the heart anomalies people experience during these months are avoidable. Read ReactDx’s latest blogs for information pertaining to heart health and prevention of cardiovascular disease, and call our knowledgeable mobile cardiac telemetry representatives at (800) 23-HEART (234-3278) for more information.
