With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is time to celebrate with food and family. However, holiday season travel, family visits, financial strain, and high expectations can cause stress this time of year. The added strain is unhealthy on your heart.
The body, especially the cardiovascular system, responds negatively to stress. Your heart rate increases and heart muscles contract when you feel stress. It raises your blood pressure, and your body prompts to produce stress hormones including adrenaline, cortisol, and noradrenaline. The more stress this holiday season, the more of an impact it has on heart health.
Stress affects behaviors and factors that are unhealthy for your heart. Anyone with existing health issues needs to be vigilant about managing stress during the holidays. Diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, and existing heart problems are risk factors for heart disease.
A busy and stressful holiday season may make managing your health inconvenient. However, it is exactly the time to be extra vigilant and take care of yourself. Do not ignore symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pains, or dizziness. These are warning signs that something serious may be happening with your heart even if you do not have existing health conditions. Start the holiday season right with a visit to Carolina Heart and Leg Center, P.A. The doctors will evaluate your risk factors and help you manage your health. De-stress and celebrate a season to remember with a healthy and happy heart.
*Stock photographs and artwork are for illustrative purposes only. **This blog/post contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice, and should not be treated as such. You must not rely on this blog/post as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other healthcare providers. Please see our full disclaimer at www.CarolinaHeartAndLeg.com.
