While the holidays can be a time of celebration with plenty of events, parties, and family and friend gatherings, this festive season can also be hectic — causing more stress to your heart more than you may realize.
“Certain cardiac events, such as heart attacks and heart failure flare-ups, become more common during this time of the year,” said Dr. Majid Mughal, interventional cardiologist at McLaren Greater Lansing Cardiovascular Associates. “People often lose sight of the need to make healthy decisions or prioritizing self-care during this time of the year, so it’s important to monitor your health, including observing any red-flag symptoms.”
Such symptoms include noticing irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia), feeling dizzy or out of breath, and experiencing chest pain. Common triggers of cardiac complications include stress, indulgence in rich, salty foods or alcohol, and overexertion. Dr. Mughal explains the risk factors and how to keep your heart healthy during the holiday season to avoid preventable trips to the emergency room.
Stress
During the holiday season, there may be one event after another. There may also be financial and social expectations that come with the holidays causing added stress. Dr. Mughal emphasizes the importance of taking breaks for self-care and of trying to stick to your normal, day-to-day activities as much as possible.
“With all of the distractions, it can be easy to forget about taking your medications, making sure you have enough medications on hand, and to getting them refilled in a timely manner,” said Dr. Mughal. “If you’re diabetic, ensuring that you are monitoring your blood glucose levels is critical. In addition, those who have hypertension should consistently take their blood pressure and discuss with their doctor immediately if they are seeing any spikes that may mean they need to have their medication adjusted.”
Setting up reminders on your phone can be a helpful way to remember to take your medication while traveling or distracted with any holiday planning.
Diet
“Small changes in your diet can make a big impact, especially for patients who are suffering from heart failure or diabetes,” said Dr. Mughal. “Make sure you stick with a low-sodium diet, and carefully monitor your alcohol consumption and sugar intake.”
Alcohol is linked with heart palpitations and increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (A-Fib). Heavier drinking may also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
“A good way to monitor your heart rate is to wear a health-monitoring device such as a Fitbit or a smart watch with ability to signal if there has been a change in your heartbeats or rhythm,” said Dr. Mughal.
Physical Strain During Winter Months
Added stress and changes in your diet during a period of snowfall or colder temperatures can be detrimental to your heart health.
“Cold temperatures affect the arteries in our body, causing them to constrict and blood pressure to rise, making the heart work harder,” said Dr. Mughal. “Activities such as snow shoveling can be risky for people who have heart disease that can lead to a sudden cardiac event.”
Other people at risk of overexerting their heart while participating in heavy lifting and harder physical activities they aren’t used to doing include those who are overweight or obese; those who have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes; and those who smoke or have a smoking history.
“Take lots of breaks, and don’t overdo it,” said Dr. Mughal. “Ask a family member or friend to help with household duties that would otherwise cause you unnecessary strain that your body isn’t used to.”
Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms
If you are having any shortness of breath or chest discomfort followed by pounding in your chest, these symptoms should be addressed in the emergency room to rule out anything more serious, like a heart attack.
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