Health News
By Stephanie Brown
Gloucester County Times | December 3, 2007

So you blew off your diet for Thanksgiving dinner and spent the rest of the evening sitting in front of the television watching football.

You're not alone.

It's common knowledge that the majority of people tend not to be health conscious during the holiday season.

But that decision could be costly.

Research has shown that heart attacks and cardiac deaths increase around the holidays, said Dr. Ronald Cohen, an interventional cardiologist at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden.

While stress and indulgence in food and drink might aggravate health problems, Cohen said the most significant factor that causes people to delay getting medical care during the holidays is the holidays themselves.

"You can't ignore your symptoms because you're in the holiday spirit and spending time with the family at home," said Cohen, who has been with Lourdes for 25 years. "If the chest pain isn't going away, it may well be the turkey dinner or it could be a heart attack or angina and you need to get that checked out."

Cohen said he routinely sees patients putting off tests until after the New Year.

"I think what happens is, in the back of people's mind they really don't want to deal with a potential serious diagnosis this time of the year," he said.

As an interventional cardiologist, Cohen said he sees the results of over-indulgence and delaying of care at their worst.

"When I see the patient at the hospital, they're usually having a heart attack and you got to go in and fix it," he said. "I see the end result of bad behavior."

Whether you suffer from a cardiac-related condition or not, extra-rich foods, increased alcohol consumption, family stress and cold weather can all have negative health consequences.

Cohen offers these heart healthy tips to cope with the holiday season:

Make sure to watch portion sizes and select one or two of your favorites from the host of tempting foods. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

Be active and keep moving. Don't make food and drink the focal point of all your activities. Plan a special walk with the family on a day when you are all together or go caroling.

Cold weather can increase heart disease risks. If you suffer from a cardiac condition, check with your doctors before shoveling snow or other strenuous outdoor activity.

Watch your symptoms. Some heart attack symptoms are similar to those of indigestion, another seasonal risk, and many people would rather blame their discomfort on gluttony than interrupt a party by dashing off to the ER. If you have pain that doesn't go away, seek medical attention.

Get plenty of sleep. Too little sleep, coupled with extra stress, can lead to a rise in high blood pressure and other problems.

[Read this article online here.]