Managing Your Heart Health During The Holidays
 

The holiday season can bring it with ton of festive events and good food. However, preparing for those events can be stressful and the deluge of delicious treats may affect your diet. Even though it may be tempting to ignore your diet during the holidays, it is important to eat as healthily as you can to reduce the negative impact the holidays may have on your heart health.

Here are some tips you can follow this holiday season:

1. Do not go overboard on the alcohol: Holiday Heart Syndrome is an irregular heartbeat in which the heart beats faster than normal. It can be caused by factors such as stress, dehydration, higher than usual alcohol consumption or a combination of different factors. Alcohol acts as a natural irritant to the heart and constant alcohol consumption can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation. Symptoms of Holiday Heart Syndrome include pounding in your chest, shortness of breath or chest discomfort.
2. Stay on top of your medication: Staying on schedule with your medication may be challenging when you switch time zones during travels or are away from your daily routine but it is important to take your medication as prescribed. You can try setting alarms or reminders, or asking someone to remind you. If you notice tell-tale warning signs such as chest discomforts that get worse with physical activity or a sudden, rapid heart rate with jaw or shoulder pains, do not ignore it.
3. Keep food portion sizes reasonable and limit fatty food: You may get swept up in the festive cheer and be inclined to eat more than you should, however overeating may lead to chest pains or shortness of breaths in some people.
4. Watch the amount of sodium you consume: Food high in saturated fat and salt can lead to high blood pressure and blood cholesterol. If you have a heart condition, your body’s ability to manage fluid and process salt may be compromised. Limit your consumption of canned or processed food, along with gravies and sauces, as they tend to be high in salt.
5. Find ways to manage your stress levels: Stress is a normal part of life but prolonged stress or sudden, drastic spikes of stress can be detrimental to your health instead. Increased stress may increase your risk of a heart attack. This is as stress causes an increase in cortisol, the primary stress hormone, leading to an increase in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and heart rate.