READER'S ROCK LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE VOL 2 ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2014 VOL 2 ISSUE 6 - JAN-FEB 2015 | Page 53

Expert tips to protect your heart this winter (BPT) - Heart disease and stroke remain the two top killers of Americans, according to the American Heart Association. Some research shows that heartrelated deaths increase by 5 percent during the holidays, no matter where you live, and more cardiac deaths occur on Christmas and New Year's day than on any other days of the year, according to a study by the University of California, San Diego and Tufts University School of Medicine published in the journal Circulation. Cardiovascular-related incidents increase in winter for a number of reasons, including drops in temperature that constrict blood vessels, irregular workout routines, poor stress management and changing eating habits. "We tend to eat significantly more inflammation-promoting foods in the winter," says Dr. Michael Roizen, founder of RealAge.com. "The combination of poor diet and other stressors can trigger plaque ruptures and cause chunks of fatty deposits lining arteries to enter the bloodstream, potentially leading to more risk for heart attack and stroke." Here are suggestions for keeping your heart healthy this winter: Maintain a healthy diet Less than 1 percent of adults meet the American Heart Association's definition for an "Ideal Healthy Diet," which means the majority of