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Human HyperFormance Newsletters>
Beware the Holiday Heart Attack!
December 9, 2007
Deaths from heart disease peak in December and January,
with spikes on Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to
Dr. Keith Churchwell, associate director of the Vanderbilt
Heart and Vascular Institute. He suggests several possible
reasons;
1. People who might need medical attention delay getting
it, so as not to spoil the holiday.
2.They also may skip their dietary and exercise programs,
either as a reward for all the good work they’ve done all
year, or just because they’re time and social
responsibility crunched.
3. For many, drinking more alcohol is a holiday tradition.
But this can contribute to holiday heart syndrome. ‘Alcohol
has a toxic effect on the heart muscle in a number of ways,
but, in particular, it can lead to an irritation of the
heart muscles, particularly the top chamber of the heart --
the atrium. This can lead to atrial fibrillation -- an
abnormal heart rhythm that is a classic finding of the
holiday heart,’ according to Churchwell.
4. The stress and pace of the season may also cause them to
forget their medications.
Here are a few suggestions to avoid one present you don’t
want.
1. If you think you might need medical care, get it.
Timely care is crucial to minimizing damage from heart
attacks.
2. Schedule your diet and exercise “cheat” days. “Keeping
control of the situation will make you feel like it’s all
part of your plan, rather than you just screwed up again
and undid all your good work. Break your workouts into
mini workouts. Five or ten minutes several times a day
will keep you on the plan. And keep your calories under
control. You know the drill: veggie appetizers first,
small plates, pay attention to the food when you eat it…
3. Alternate water with alcoholic beverages, or at least
substitute alcohol free drinks as much as possible.
4. When the going gets tough, the tough make a list.
Schedule the important things on your “to-do” list, and
meds are important things.
5. And finally, remember that it’s supposed to be FUN. If
you feel stressed, take a minute to do the following
exercise: inhale slowly for 4 seconds, exhale slowly for 4
seconds, then relax for 4 seconds before you repeat. Do
this 3 times, but the third time, hold the pause after the
exhale for as long as you comfortably can, and then take a
big, easy inhale. That’s your natural breathing reflex.
Enjoy.
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