First off, you have your diet. Your diet tends to be at its worst this time of year. From Thanksgiving right until January 1st, it seems all we do is eat and drink, and not healthy stuff either.
Throwing the rules of healthy eating out the window can be dangerous for your heart, especially if you already have underlying medical conditions which can worsen through unhealthy eating such as hypertension or diabetes. Although it may be challenging, try to reduce your intake of sodium and sugar, steer clear of refined carbohydrates, and stock up on fruits and vegetables as much as you can. It’s okay to sample other goods, but avoid opting for a second serving.
Secondly, we all tend to exercise less this time of year because it’s far too cold to leave the house. It’s important that you still push yourself to stick to some sort of physical activity routine. Whether this means joining a gym, or even walking around a mall, it’s important that you keep moving somehow.
Furthermore, there is plenty of stress this time of year from gift-giving and hosting to seeing your family constantly. Chronic stress can have a negative impact on your overall health by hurting your sleep, weakening your immune system, and triggering inflammation in the body. In all the holiday hustle and bustle, it’s important that you still take time out for yourself to reduce stress.
Lastly, with the approach of the New Year, this is a great time of year to recommit to your heart health. Develop a tangible New Year’s resolution to start improving your health throughout the year as to reduce your risk of a heart attack all year round.
This year, give yourself the best gift, that being a healthy heart.
Also read:
- Yoga for heart health: Yoga poses to reduce the risk of heart disease
- 5 winter beverages that are good for your heart
- Christmas heart attack and holiday heart syndrome prevention tips