- Make it a potluck! Ask your friends and family to pitch in! Have everyone bring a dish so that the workload doesn’t all fall on one person. Want to take it to the next level? Challenge yourself and your loved ones to create dishes rich in colorful veggies, fruits, and whole grains!
- Watch your alcohol intake. Over time, excessive drinking can raise your blood pressure. Binge drinking can actually lead to an irregular heartbeat known as arterial fibrillation, which increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Catch some Zzzz… One of the easiest ways to strengthen your immune system is to get an adequate amount of sleep! Infection and fever put extra strain on the heart so keep your immune system functioning properly!
- Get some fresh air. The crackling of a wood burning fire might put you in the holiday mood, but the tiny particles released by burning wood are detrimental to your heart health. Keep your distance from burning wood and stay inside during any air pollution alerts.
- Get moving! Take a walk around your neighborhood to look at lights! Find a quick workout video on YouTube! Turn your activity into quality family time and ask your loved ones to join you! Exercising works wonders on your heart and relieves stress!
- Say NO! Stay away from high stress situations. The first step? Paring down your “to do” list! You are not a superhero—no one expects you to be! Having too much on your plate can lead to exhaustion, anger, and emotional stress—all which cause strain on the heart!
- Pay attention. Many people ignore their health during the holidays. Don’t forget to take your medications and pay attention to how you’re feeling. If you feel like something might be wrong, don’t blame it on stress, worry about being an inconvenience, or brush it off. Many people confuse heart attacks with panic attacks. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Don’t put off discomfort or pain because you are traveling. Seek medical attention right away.
