One of the best ways to stay heart healthy is by eating a well-balanced diet that is low on sodium, saturated fats, and sugar. With so many junk food options made of all those things, it can be hard to stick to a healthy diet. The battle gets worst during the holidays.

This time of year is known for its delectable foods and treats. It’s fine to indulge in moderation, but if you have cardiac problems or are at risk of cardiac problems, it’s important to keep your heart and health in mind.

Here are 8 ways to stay heart healthy during holidays!

1. Don’t Skip Meals
   As much as you may be looking forward to the main event, don’t skip breakfast or lunch. You will end up hungrier when you miss meals and are more likely to overeat later in the day. Snacking is fine, too, but try to make good choices when you eat between meals. Sweets, pastries, and fatty foods are plentiful during the holidays so there’s always a lot of temptation.
2. Start with Oats
   Having a solid breakfast is a good way to start a festive day. In addition to keeping you from snacking or overeating later on, oats like porridge and sugar-free muesli are great for your heart and cholesterol. They’ll also keep you feeling fuller for longer than other types of breakfast foods.
3. Cook with Healthier Fats
   Try olive oil for roasting your dishes and be careful about how much you use. Unsaturated fats like olive oil are perfect for roasting because they add a nice flavour to your food and give them a wonderful crisp. They’re better for your health, too, when compared to saturated fats like butter or margarine.
4. Portion control
   The different delicious dishes served at Christmas are some of what people look forward to most during the holiday season. Don’t feel bad about putting a bit of everything on your plate, but don’t overdo it and put on huge heaps of food. Portion control is important for weight management. You don’t have to restrict yourself, instead just eat your favourite foods in moderation.
   To help keep you from eating too much, put on extra healthier options like veg and take the time to enjoy your food. The slower you eat, the more time your stomach will have to register that it’s full.
5. Watch What You Drink
   It’s not just treats and desserts that can add to your waistline. Popular festive drinks like eggnog, wine, beers, and hot chocolate can add extra calories without you realising it. Be mindful of what you drink and opt for lower calorie options wherever you can. Water is always the best choice, and an added benefit of water is that it will help you feel fuller.
6. Put Leftovers Away
   After everyone is done eating, put the leftovers away- and ask for help if you need it! If the food is left out, you might start grazing or snacking on food when you’re not even hungry.
7. Say No to That Smoke
   It can be tempting to smoke a cigar or cigarette when people around you are doing so. We’ll be getting together with our friends and family, and it can be tempting to join them for a cheeky smoke as part of the merriment.
   Smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease so you might think ‘just one’ won’t hurt, but you’d be wrong. You cause damage to your body whenever you smoke or are exposed to second hand smoke. Plus, they’re very addictive so ‘just one’ can easily turn into a lot more.
8. Stay Active
   The holidays can be a busy yet lazy time. The colder months also make it seem more appealing to stay inside, bundled up in a comfy blanket. To help keep off any extra holiday weight, ask your family and friends to take a walk after eating to spend time together while staying active.
   You could even arrange a friendly football game or other fun outside activity if it’s snowing like building snowmen or having a snowball fight.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is on the rise in the UK, with more and more people being diagnosed each year. There are several conditions that fall under the term ‘heart disease,’ including:

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats)
• Heart valve disease
• Congenital defects
• Disease of the heart muscle

Heart disease is often preventable through healthy lifestyle choices like eating well and staying active. Even people who are at high risk of heart disease can take steps to mitigate that risk or even reduce their symptoms if they’ve already been diagnosed. That’s why many of these tips for staying healthy during the holidays should be implemented year-round.

Heart Disease Symptoms

• Tightness in the chest
• Chest pain
• Chest discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Numbness, pain, weakness, or coldness in extremities
• Pain in the neck, throat, jaw, or back
• Racing heart beat

The symptoms can be different for women than for men. It’s not uncommon for women to experience heart issues or cardiac events that are less severe than men, leading to misdiagnosis. Instead of crushing chest pain, they might have symptoms like nausea, sweating, dizziness, indigestion, and unexplained tiredness.

Chronic Heart Disease Treatment

A recent study has shown that people with heart disease have a life expectancy 10 years shorter than those who don’t have heart disease. This outcome can be reduced by effectively managing the condition by taking care of yourself and by taking medications.

Many of the medications used to treat heart disease and other heart conditions can be found at Pharmacy Planet. Visit our online shop to buy Isosorbide online with swift home delivery.

We also stock several medications to relieve the symptoms of heartburn. Enjoy your holiday meals without the worry of indigestion by buying Lansoprazole Capsules and Omeprazole Losec Capsules Online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet.