The Holiday Heart Trick Every Senior Should Know

Merry Christmas from me and the whole team at Natural Health Today!

I hope you’ll spend the holiday season surrounded by all of the people you love.

And I want to make sure you’re around for plenty of Christmases, New Year’s, birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries to come.

That’s why I wanted to let you know about a unique threat to your heart that only comes around this time of year.

Most seniors are never warned about it – but I’m going to give you some simple steps that can help keep you safe.

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy – but they can also be a time for stress, unhealthy foods, cold weather, and disrupted schedules.

Did you know that heart attacks spike like clockwork around Christmas every single year?

And it’s easy to chalk up the early symptoms like indigestion to the food you’re eating – or fatigue or pain to all of the running around you’ve been doing.

Now, I know you’re not going to cut out your favorite foods or trim down your holiday schedule – and I’m not asking you to.

So I’m just going to give you one piece of advice that will go a long way toward protecting your heart this holiday season.

Focus on keeping a regular sleep schedule.

It’s easy for your sleep schedule and your circadian rhythm – your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle – to get out of whack this time of year. But that can put extra strain on your heart during a time of year when your ticker has enough problems.

Try to do these three things to keep your circadian rhythm healthy this holiday season – and throughout the year.

• Get sun exposure in your eyes first thing in the morning – no glasses or contact lenses. You don’t need to look directly into the sun – just keep it in your peripheral vision. This helps set your circadian rhythm for the day.
• Avoid artificial blue light from TVs, cell phones, laptops, and tablets at night. Your body mistakes this light for sunlight, which suppresses melatonin (a key hormone you need for sleep). If you’re going to be around screens at night, wear blue-light-blocking glasses. You can find them easily online or through retailers like Best Buy.
• Try to go to bed at roughly the same time every night. I know that’s easier said than done during the holiday season, but try to keep as regular a schedule as possible.

Enjoy this holiday with your loved ones, friend. Just take some time to take care of your heart, too, so we can keep you around a good long time.