The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 26, Number 4 | Página 23

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | December 2019
Healthy Living Tips from
AVOIDING A HOLIDAY HEART ATTACK
Let’s face it. The holidays are stressful. Between shopping, parties, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining who has time
to slow down? Add to this eating too much, drinking too much (of alcohol) and not enough (of water), spending too
much, and staying up later than usual. All of this is a stress recipe.
And did you know that statistically the holidays are one of the most frequent times for heart attacks? Call it Christmas
Coronary, Holiday Heart Attack, or Happy New Year’s Heart Attack, you get the idea.
Stress is a Silent Killer
All of the frenetic rushing around at the holidays can definitely be a stress builder. Many people shrug that off as a
temporary problem that will go away. What you may not realize is that stress causes medical problems.
“When you are stressed you release hormones,” says Dr. Vincent Pompili, Cardiology Chair at Deborah Heart and
Lung Center. “These hormones, like adrenaline or cortisol, have very specific effects on your body. They constrict
your blood vessels, increase your heart rate, and raise your blood pressure.”
Dr. Pompili explains that if you have a one-in, one-out stress situation and then calm yourself again, the health
effects are minimal. But a continuous level of stress and higher hormones eventually can do damage.
“Think about what this means. As you are running yourself ragged, and getting stressed, your blood vessels are
tightening. At the same time your blood pressure and heart rate are going up. This is not good for your body.”
Take Control of Stress
Dr. Pompili says that if you stay realistic during the holidays about what you can and can’t do, and change your
expectations, you can do a good job of managing your stress.
“Planning can be your best friend. Pace yourself with the tasks you have to do. Ask for help. You don’t have to be a
perfect holiday entertainer. And try to do things like stick within your budget so you aren’t stressing and worrying
about money.”
“And although it’s hard to do, try to slow down. Keep with your healthy eating habits, try not to drink too much
alcohol, and if you exercise, don’t blow off the gym for a month. No one needs the gift of a Christmas Coronary.”
For an appointment with a Deborah Heart and Lung Center specialist: 855-646-3484 or request an
appointment online: www.DemandDeborah.org.
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