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The natural health researchers at Institute for Vibrant Living have released this report on the deadly winter heart attack season:
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According to medical statistics, winter is your heart’s worst enemy.
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The National Registry of Myocardial Infarction reports that Americans experience 54 percent more heart attacks in winter than in summer, with January as the leading month for heart attacks.
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Winter heart attacks also tend to be more serious, with a 9 percent fatality rate.Â
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Medical researchers note a variety of reasons why heart attacks are more common during winter months.
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Cold temperatures cause arteries to tighten, restricting blood flow and reducing the oxygen supply to the heart, all of which can set the stage for a heart attack.
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Experts also say the heart has to work harder in cold weather because blood vessels constrict to help the body maintain body heat.
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Heart attacks are more likely to occur in the morning hours. The early morning rise in blood pressure that most people experience can dramatically increase the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
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Heart attacks usually occur in people with atherosclerosis, or a build-up of plaque in their arteries.
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For a heart attack to occur, some sudden event must cause the plaque to crack and rupture, at which point blood platelets get sticky and form a clot in the artery.
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This is probably the reason why heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days after a major snowstorm, often as a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is extremely demanding, causing the heart to work hard and raising blood pressure. Coupled with the cold weather, risks soar.
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Unfortunately, many people think that the chest pain they experience while snow shoveling is just a pulled muscle and not a heart attack. That is understandable because a classic heart attack is marked by pain in the chest that radiates down the left arm but it can also feel like a classic muscle pull.
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If you must shovel, push the snow rather than lift it, stay warm and take frequent breaks. If you are older than 50, overweight, out of shape or have suffered a previous heart attack, don’t shovel at all.
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Increased rates of influenza and other respiratory disease in the winter weather may also play a role in the increased rate of heart attacks. Infections cause inflammation, which can make plaque less stable and contribute to heart problems.
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Fortunately, there are many things you can do to help protect yourself from winter heart issues, even if you have had a previous heart attack.
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Prevention and awareness are the keys. Consider the following prevention tips:
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Stick to your exercise plan. If you don’t have one get one. Even a walk inside the house can be of benefit.
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Join a gym or find other ways to keep your
workouts on track indoors.
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Eat healthy and watch your portion sizes.
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Get to know and carefully manage your blood pressure.
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Don’t ignore symptoms if you feel unwell.
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Get enough sleep.
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 And one more thingâ¦
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If you find yourself experiencing any of the classic symptoms of a heart attack such as chest or arm pain, nausea, weakness, shortness of breath or sudden confusion seek medical help immediately.
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And remember, aspirin taken during a suspected heart attack can lessen the damaging effects of the heart attack.
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On a more upbeat note…
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A delicious way to keep warm while helping to lower blood pressure, boost immune response and raise good HDL cholesterol – is to drink dark chocolate cocoa. But it must contain a minimum of 70% pure cocoa mass to be effective.
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The formulators at Institute for Vibrant Living have addressed this issue by created a cocoa drink mix called “Cocoberri”. As the name implies, it contains berries of acai, goji, bilberry, blueberry, raspberry, as well as resveratrol â all expertly blended with 70% pure cocoa mass powder. It is easily mixed with water or soy milk to create a refreshing winter drink.
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For more information on Cocoberri, visit IVLProducts.com.
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Please be sure to follow the tips outlined above to help prevent excessive stress on your heart this winter season.
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And enjoy life to its fullest!
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David Flores is a natural health researcher for Institute for Vibrant Living, a leading source for all-natural supplements, vitamins, and minerals for many health and nutrition challenges. To learn more about the products offered by the Institute for Vibrant Living visit http://www.ivlproducts.com
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If you found this helpful you might like to visit http://www.theivl.org where you’ll find more free healthy living articles to help improve your health today.
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