Facts about Heart Disease

What are some of the facts about heart disease,truth about heart disease?

Experts used to believe that the rise of cardiac deaths during the holiday season could be attributed to the colder weather conditions. Now they know the real dangers lie at what are supposed to be festive occasions. Let's take a closer look at the facts about heart disease and its link to the holidays.

More than glad tidings, the holidays bring an increase in heart disease deaths, which are known to rise on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The trend is so common that cardiologists refer to the attacks as "Christmas Coronary" and the "New Year Heart Attack."

A research team looked closer at more than 200,000 heart disease related deaths that were recorded over a 12-year period. The study found that around one-third more deaths were recorded in the mid-December and early January than from summer through fall. The holiday season also brings a rise in hospital admissions for nonfatal heart disease complaints such as chest pain.

It was once believed that cold weather was the main reason for holiday-related heart attacks. However, how could this heart diseases facts be a cause for patients living in places such as sunny California where temperatures are generally mild year round?

Cold weather does increase the body's response to stressful conditions, particularly when people engage in vigorous activities such as shoveling snow when they are unaccustomed to physical exertion.

People indulge in alcoholic beverages more often than usual throughout the holiday celebrations. Excessive alcohol can be toxic to the cardiovascular system for people with heart disease. Alcohol irritates the top heart chambers which can lead to a dangerous change in the heart's natural rhythm.

* The guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association are for no more than one alcoholic drink daily for women and two drinks daily for men.

People tend to overeat during the holidays and richer foods that are high in fat are generally on the menu. After a large meal, blood is directed to the intestines to aid in digestion. In patients with blocked coronary arteries this can restrict blood flowing to the heart. The reduction in blood circulation can cause chest pain.

If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, eat normal serving sizes and pass on the salt shaker. Too much sodium can cause water retention, resulting in a rise in blood pressure. For patients with existing heart disease, an increased amount of salt can lead to higher risk for heart attack.

One of the facts about heart disease is that there is a direct link between stress and heart attacks. The holidays are one of the most enjoyable and stressful times of year. People are interacting more with relatives, dealing with over crowded conditions at shopping malls, traveling out of town, attending parties, and possibly worrying about finances.

Minimize holiday stress by not over extending yourself with family commitments and walking away from unpleasant social encounters. Keep up with regular exercise routines and enjoy relaxing activities.

Heart disease patients are especially vulnerable during the flu season which peaks between December and March. The CDC strongly suggests an annual flu vaccine for adults 50 years of age and up. Any adult with heart, lung, or kidney disease, diabetes, and those with immune systems disorders should also be vaccinated.

People who are caught up in holiday excitement or who do not want to spoil the holiday plans for others may delay seeking medical care, even if they are having chest pain or other heart disease symptoms.

Facts about Heart Disease

The most common facts of heart disease and heart attack symptom for men and women is some type of pain, pressure, or discomfort in the chest. The pain may not be severe, especially in women, who are more likely to have symptoms unrelated to chest pain.

Symptoms for men and women include:

Chest pressure or pain

Pain extending beyond the chest to the shoulder, arm, back, jaw

Abdominal pain

Shortness of breath

Sweating

Sense of doom

Dizziness

Nausea

Unexplained fatigue

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