Caring for Your Heart During the Winter Season
By Donna Stark
One of the first things people do when the winter season arrives is to start protecting themselves from colds and the flu. They will reduce their exposure to germs by avoiding large crowds, they will add more immunity-boosting foods to their diet, and they will pull out all the disinfecting supplies they own. However, there are other, more serious issues than colds and the flu that should be considered as well, especially if you or a loved one struggles with heart issues. Did you know that the drop in temperature can lead to more issues with your heart? Keep reading to learn more.
Cold Temperatures and the Heart
Why should you be especially proactive during the winter when dealing with heart issues? Because your blood vessels contract when the temperatures drop. When this happens, your heart will then need to work harder to maintain your body's warmth. And when it has more work to do, your heart rate and blood pressure will increase.
On top of that, we generally tend to use our bodies in different ways during the winter season. Whether we become more sedentary (which is awful for the body) or we become more active (hello weekly snow shoveling), it's always important to keep the health of our hearts in mind. So, what does that look like? How can we keep our hearts healthy during the winter season? Here are some suggestions from your local chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic.
- Bundle up - When heading outdoors, make sure you are maintaining your core heat by wearing appropriate clothing and shoes. Dress in layers, use gloves, scarves, and hats, and choose weatherproof footwear.
- Stay warm indoors - Keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Pull out your slippers, wool socks, coverups, and electric blankets if you need to.
- Stay active - Even though the weather outside is frightful doesn't mean you can skip your workouts. Try to stretch every morning and incorporate at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your days.
- Eat a well-balanced diet - Winter definitely screams for comfort foods, but they can be heavy in sauces and creams. Instead, try to include lots of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and heart-healthy fats in your meals.
- Ask for help - Last of all, ask for help, especially if heavy snow is in the forecast. Overexertion is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. Keep yourself safe by delegating this brutal task to someone else.
Loving Your Heart
Your heart has been working nonstop from the moment you were born, so give it a break and show it some extra love this year. Take care of it so it can continue taking care of you for years to come.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Beaverton, Ore.