Holiday Heart Health: How to Protect Your Heart During the Holidays

The holiday season in Northwest Wisconsin brings plenty to look forward to. Family gatherings, favorite meals, festive traditions, and time spent with the people we love make this a special time of year.

But between busy schedules, holiday stress, colder temperatures, and changes to everyday routines, it's also important to pay attention to your heart health.

Research has found that certain cardiac events and deaths occur more frequently during the winter holiday season. While the reasons aren't fully understood, stress, alcohol consumption, disruptions to healthy routines, and delays in seeking medical care may contribute.

At Burnett Medical Center in Grantsburg, WI, we want you to enjoy the holidays while taking care of yourself and your loved ones.

Here are a few practical ways to keep your heart health a priority this holiday season.

Enjoy Your Holiday Favorites in Moderation

From Christmas cookies to family dinners, food is often at the center of holiday celebrations. You don't need to give up your favorite traditions to make heart-healthy choices.

Instead, focus on balance.

• Watch your sodium intake. Holiday meals can contain more salt than usual, which may affect blood pressure and fluid retention.
• Include heart-healthy foods. Add vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins to your holiday meals.
• Be mindful of alcohol. Drinking alcohol can raise blood pressure and may trigger irregular heart rhythms, particularly when consumed in excess.
• Stay hydrated. Drink water regularly, especially when traveling or participating in physical activities.
• Listen to your body. Enjoy your favorite foods while paying attention to how you feel.

If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, or another chronic condition, continue following the dietary recommendations provided by your healthcare team.

Small, consistent habits can help you enjoy holiday celebrations while supporting your long-term cardiovascular health.

Keep Taking Your Medications as Prescribed

With shopping lists, family visits, and holiday activities filling the calendar, it's easy for everyday routines to get disrupted.

However, keeping up with prescribed medications is especially important for individuals managing heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other cardiovascular conditions.

Before the holiday rush:

• Check that you have enough medication to last through travel and holiday closures.
• Set reminders if your schedule will be different than usual.
• Keep medications in their original containers when traveling.
• Continue taking medications as prescribed, even if you're feeling well.
• Contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions about your medication routine.

Don't stop or change prescribed medications without guidance from your healthcare provider.

Burnett Medical Center's Family Practice Clinic provides ongoing care for patients managing chronic health conditions, including those affecting the heart.

Manage Holiday Stress and Make Time to Rest

There's a lot to get done during the holidays. Between decorating, cooking, shopping, traveling, and preparing for family gatherings, the season can become exhausting.

Stress can temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure, and ongoing stress may make it harder to maintain healthy habits.

Give yourself permission to slow down.

Consider:

• Taking short breaks throughout the day
• Getting adequate sleep
• Maintaining regular physical activity
• Asking family members or friends for help with holiday preparations
• Setting realistic expectations for gatherings and celebrations
• Making time for activities that help you relax

Remember, you don't have to do everything yourself. Sometimes buying the pie instead of baking it is perfectly fine.

And if you have a history of heart disease, talk with your healthcare provider about physical activities that may place additional strain on your cardiovascular system.

Be Careful With Snow Shoveling and Winter Activities

Anyone who's spent a winter in Grantsburg knows that snow shoveling can be a workout.

Shoveling heavy, wet snow requires physical effort, and cold temperatures can place additional demands on the cardiovascular system.

For individuals with heart disease or certain risk factors, strenuous winter activities may increase the risk of a cardiac event.

To help protect yourself:

• Avoid suddenly taking on strenuous activity if you aren't accustomed to regular exercise.
• Take frequent breaks and avoid overexertion.
• Dress appropriately for cold temperatures.
• Consider using a snowblower or asking someone for assistance.
• Talk with your healthcare provider about activity restrictions if you have an existing heart condition.

If you experience chest discomfort, unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, or other possible heart attack symptoms while shoveling or exercising, stop the activity and call 911.

Don't attempt to push through concerning symptoms or wait to see whether they disappear.

Know the Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

One of the most important things you can do for your heart health is recognize when something may be wrong.

Heart attack symptoms don't always look like the dramatic chest pain shown in movies. Some heart attacks begin with mild discomfort, and symptoms may come and go.

Common warning signs include:

• Chest pain or discomfort: Pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain in the center of the chest
• Upper-body discomfort: Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Shortness of breath: With or without chest discomfort
• Cold sweats: Sudden sweating without an obvious cause
• Nausea or lightheadedness: Feeling sick, dizzy, or unusually weak
• Unusual fatigue: Particularly when accompanied by other concerning symptoms

Women may experience additional symptoms such as nausea, shortness of breath, back or shoulder discomfort, and unusual fatigue.

If you think you or someone else may be having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

Do not wait until a holiday gathering ends, until guests leave, or until the next morning. Do not drive yourself to the hospital.

Emergency medical responders can begin evaluating and treating you before you arrive at the hospital.

Burnett Medical Center's Emergency Department in Grantsburg, WI, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

Make Heart Health a Priority All Year Long

Taking care of your heart isn't limited to the holiday season.

Regular preventive care can help you understand your cardiovascular risk factors, monitor existing health conditions, and make informed decisions about your health.

Consider scheduling a routine appointment if you're due for:

• Blood pressure monitoring
• Cholesterol screening
• Diabetes testing or follow-up care
• Medication reviews
• Preventive wellness examinations
• Follow-up appointments for existing heart conditions

At Burnett Medical Center, our Cardiac Services include cardiac rehabilitation, heart monitoring, stress testing, and other services that support cardiovascular health.

Our Family Practice Clinic can also help you manage risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

These routine visits are important for prevention and long-term care, but they should never replace emergency care when heart attack symptoms occur.

Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Heart Health

Are heart attacks more common during the holidays?

Research has identified an increase in certain cardiac events and deaths during the winter holiday season, particularly around Christmas and New Year's Day. Holiday stress, changes in eating and drinking habits, disrupted routines, and delays in seeking medical attention may contribute. However, heart attacks can happen at any time of year. Knowing the warning signs and seeking immediate emergency care when symptoms occur is important throughout every season.

What are the warning signs of a heart attack?

Common heart attack symptoms include chest pain or pressure, discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, and lightheadedness. Some individuals, particularly women, may also experience unusual fatigue or other less-recognized symptoms. If you believe you or someone else may be experiencing a heart attack, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe or attempt to drive yourself to the hospital.

How can I keep my heart healthy during holiday celebrations?

You can support your heart health during the holidays by eating balanced meals, limiting sodium, being mindful of alcohol consumption, staying physically active, getting enough sleep, and managing stress. If you take medication for a heart condition or another chronic illness, continue following your prescribed treatment plan. Small, consistent choices can support cardiovascular health while allowing you to enjoy holiday traditions with family and friends.

Can cold weather and snow shoveling increase the risk of a heart attack?

Yes. Cold temperatures and strenuous activities such as shoveling heavy snow can place additional stress on the cardiovascular system. The combination may be especially concerning for individuals with heart disease, high blood pressure, or other cardiovascular risk factors. Avoid overexertion, take breaks, and ask for assistance when needed. If you develop symptoms that may indicate a heart attack, stop the activity and call 911 immediately.

Where can I receive heart care in Grantsburg, WI?

Burnett Medical Center offers cardiac services in Grantsburg, WI, including cardiac rehabilitation, heart monitoring, stress testing, and anticoagulation management. Our Family Practice Clinic also provides preventive healthcare and chronic condition management to support long-term heart health. To learn more about cardiac services, call 715-463-7481. For general appointments, call 715-463-5353. If you are experiencing symptoms of a possible heart attack or another life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.

Wishing You a Heart-Healthy Holiday Season

The holidays are about spending time with the people who matter most. Taking care of your health is one way to help make those moments possible for years to come.

Whether it's staying consistent with your medications, enjoying holiday meals in moderation, asking for help with winter chores, or recognizing when something doesn't feel right, a little attention to your heart health can make a difference.

At Burnett Medical Center, we're proud to care for our neighbors in Grantsburg and throughout Northwest Wisconsin.

Have questions about your heart health? Explore our Cardiac Services or call 715-463-5353 to schedule a primary care appointment.

For a suspected heart attack or other life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.

Close to home. Close to your heart.