What Effect Do the Holidays Have on Your Heart Wellness?

We may associate poor winter wellness with Christmas colds, but in hotter countries, heart health is a major concern. Researchers have noted that in temperate countries, there is an increase in the number of deadly heart attacks in the winter holidays, perhaps because of overindulgence in food and alcohol.

Singaporean mechanic supervisor Stanley Siow, 45, had a heart attack at the end of January, on the first day of the Chinese New Year. He had been gorging on goodies and drinking with his friends on New Year’s Eve and, at 4pm the next day, he had sudden sharp chest pains and profuse sweat when he climbed a flight of stairs. He was rushed to hospital, and needed an emergency angioplasty.

According to a study, published in the reputable journal Circulation in 2004, 5% more deaths are to be expected during the two weeks between Christmas Day and the seventh of January. This was based on an examination of 53 million American death certificates from 1973 to 2001, and showed that the spike occurred even in balmy areas such as Los Angeles, where the winter weather tends to be mild. This undermined previous notions that colder weather is the wellbeing risk that causes this higher death rate, and so the researchers surmised that other reasons, such as poorer staffing levels during the festive season, were behind the spike.

However, heart attacks are not only more likely in the two holiday weeks, but on any festival or religious occasion. Heart Health Experts believe this is because people are in a more celebratory mood, leading to over-consumption of food and alcohol. Also, if you are admitted to hospital before a certain holiday, you are more likely to get yourself discharged early, before your body has fully recovered. This means that you also have a higher chance of being re-admitted to hospital and could experience a poorer outcome.

Also, the busyness of the holidays makes people less likely to seek treatment for any symptoms they may experience, causing them to worsen. According to Dr Goh Ping Ping, a cardiologist in private practice and a board member of non-profit Singapore Heart Foundation, said this is especially common practise for the elderly, who put off treatment for as long as possible during the holiday season, and become more ill as a result.

Google+
What Effect Do the Holidays Have on Your Heart Wellness?

Categories: heart attacks, holidays, overindulging

During the holidays, lots of sweet treats will start to abound. But, if you don’t want to succumb to these nutrient-deficient and sugar-laden foods. Also, remember–during the holiday season (which in reality is Thanksgiving through New Year’s), if you are working towards a healthier weight at this time, weight maintenance is the key! Here below are eleven tips to keep you healthy and sane! 1. Read food labels. Knowing the calorie content will help you limit your intake and stick to portion sizes. 2. Keep a daily food and feelings journal. Recording everything you eat, as well as the time and how you feel when you eat. Keeping a journal will not only help you to see what you really consume but it may help you better understand your weaknesses and timings of when you overeat. Read your journal and recognise how good you feel when you make the healthy choice. 3. Write down your healthy goals and share them with a loved one. Goals should serve as a constant motivator. Sharing them with a loved one will provide additional support you may need when faced with temptation. 4. Make it easy to be healthy. Fill your pantry with healthy foods. Avoid foods that are not advisable to your diet and you tend to ‘give-in’ 5. Find healthy alternatives to your vices. You need to look for alternative food items with fewer calories. If you love candy bars, try granola bars. If you love chips, try raw vegetables, such as cucumbers, with hummus. If you love ice cream, try frozen fruit or low fat yogurt 6. Eat slowly and drink lots of water. Drink sufficient water, so that you get full faster. Pace yourself and you will eat less. 7. Wean yourself off sweets. As you take sweets out of your diet and increase your intake of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, you will lessen the desire for these sugar-packed, low-nutrient foods. 8. Eat every three to five hours. Eat when you are hungry to maintain a constant energy level. This will help you avoid overeating. 9. Exercise. Exercise increases your energy, improves your metabolism, raises your confidence, enhances your mood and helps you balance your food intake. 10. Seek professional help if you feel you need it. Talk with your parents or school psychologist. They are there to help you, when in need. 11. Treat yourself with a non-food reward. When you feel you deserve a reward, avoid using food as a reward. Instead get tickets to that concert you’ve had your heart set on or purchase that beautiful dress you’ve been eyeing or go to see a movie or take a walk in the park with your dog If you can maintain your weight during this time of massive celebration, you are a true winner! Don’t stress about losing weight during this period. Just enjoy yourself, but be mindful about your food choices! How to Avoid Overindulging during the Holiday Seasons

During the holidays, lots of sweet treats will start to abound. But, if you don’t want to succumb to these nutrient-deficient and sugar-laden foods.  Also, remember–during the holiday season (which in reality is Thanksgiving through New Year’s), if you are working towards a healthier weight at this time, weight maintenance is the key!

Here below are eleven tips to keep you healthy and sane!

1. Read food labels.

Knowing the calorie content will help you limit your intake and stick to portion sizes.

2. Keep a daily food and feelings journal.

Recording everything you eat, as well as the time and how you feel when you eat. Keeping a journal will not only help you to see what you really consume but it may help you better understand your weaknesses and timings of when you overeat. Read your journal and recognise how good you feel when you make the healthy choice.

 

3. Write down your healthy goals and share them with a loved one.

Goals should serve as a constant motivator. Sharing them with a loved one will provide additional support you may need when faced with temptation.

 

4. Make it easy to be healthy.

Fill your pantry with healthy foods. Avoid foods that are not advisable to your diet and you tend to ‘give-in’

 

5. Find healthy alternatives to your vices.

You need to look for alternative food items with fewer calories.  If you love candy bars, try granola bars. If you love chips, try raw vegetables, such as cucumbers, with hummus. If you love ice cream, try frozen fruit or low fat yogurt

 

6. Eat slowly and drink lots of water.

Drink sufficient water, so that you get full faster.   Pace yourself and you will eat less.

 

7. Wean yourself off sweets.

As you take sweets out of your diet and increase your intake of healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, you will lessen the desire for these sugar-packed, low-nutrient foods.

 

8. Eat every three to five hours.

Eat when you are hungry to maintain a constant energy level. This will help you avoid overeating.

 

9. Exercise.

Exercise increases your energy, improves your metabolism, raises your confidence, enhances your mood and helps you balance your food intake.

 

10. Seek professional help if you feel you need it.

Talk with your parents or school psychologist. They are there to help you, when in need.

 

11. Treat yourself with a non-food reward.

When you feel you deserve a reward, avoid using food as a reward. Instead get tickets to that concert you’ve had your heart set on or purchase that beautiful dress you’ve been eyeing or go to see a movie or take a walk in the park with your dog

 

If you can maintain your weight during this time of massive celebration, you are a true winner! Don’t stress about losing weight during this period. Just enjoy yourself, but be mindful about your food choices!

How to Avoid Overindulging during the Holiday Seasons

Categories: diet, holiday seasons, overindulging