Thanksgiving is a holiday you may look forward to because of the food. The turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie are all great, unless you're living with heart disease. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is stressful for people with heart problems due to overeating and the potential for complications.
At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, Dr. Hesham Fakhri helps patients with heart or vein disease. As an experienced cardiologist, he provides stroke prevention and blood pressure control advice and treatment to help you enjoy every holiday.
Thanksgiving and other holidays are a potential disaster for people with heart problems. Overeating and excessive alcohol consumption are just a couple of the ways it causes issues with your health.
Many people stuff themselves at Thanksgiving because it's the one time of year they have a full turkey dinner. But most of the foods at the holiday have unhealthy fats, excess sodium, and a lot of sugar.
All of these added calories and foods have the potential to strain your blood pressure and your heart, potentially causing more damage or a heart attack.
Disruption to your routine and holiday stress can also affect your heart health.
Nobody wants to deal with heart issues during Thanksgiving, which is why you need to make healthy choices. We offer the following five tips to stay health-conscious and heart-healthy during the festive season.
Unhealthy fats add to issues like high cholesterol and increase your risk for a stroke or heart attack. Use olive oil and healthy fats instead of butter, and swap low-fat milk for heavy cream or whole milk.
Excess salt in the potatoes or gravy ramps up your blood pressure, which could lead to a stroke or heart attack. Use low-sodium broths and avoid overly processed or sugary desserts. Opt for healthy foods over full-fat options.
Excess alcohol also leads to an increase in blood pressure. Although it's tempting to hit the bars over Thanksgiving week, try to cut back on how much you drink to avoid heart issues.
There are many ways to swap healthy ingredients for less favorable alternatives. For instance, use natural pumpkin puree for pumpkin pie instead of the sugary stuff in a can. You can also use low-sodium broth for gravy and olive oil instead of margarine or butter.
Thanksgiving meals are so good that most people pile their plates with food. But eating too much strains your heart and increases the risk for complications. Watch your portion sizes and avoid going back for seconds.
You certainly want to keep your heart healthy year-round, but it's especially essential during Thanksgiving and other holidays. You're more likely to overeat and overdo it during these times, especially at parties and extravagant dinners.
Ensure you take your medications as we direct to keep your heart functioning properly. It's also crucial to incorporate regular exercise, especially around the holidays, to keep your heart healthy.
Focus on the types of food you eat, too, not just the portion sizes. Fill up on healthy fruits, vegetables, and lean protein instead of overly processed or high-fat foods.
It's also a good idea to pace yourself and avoid going to parties or dinners hungry. You're more likely to overeat and fill up if you go hungry. Drink a full glass of water and eat a healthy snack before heading to Thanksgiving get-togethers.
For a more detailed plan to stay heart healthy during the holidays, contact our specialists at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute. Call us today or reach out online to schedule a consultation in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, or Sun City, Florida.
