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Hi Luci! Hi Diana!
The information you gave me yesterday about recent findings on risk factors for heart
disease got me thinking... that subject needs to get more attention. It's amazing that constant
stress and lack of sleep can put even those of us who feel fit, exercise regularly and
eat healthily at risk for a heart attack. Now with the darker days, the hard economy,
and winter holidays around the corner, it feels like an even more important subject.
I don't want to scare anyone, I just want to raise awareness. Can we do a quick rundown
of the information in layman's terms? Sure, we can do that. And it's actually a
subject that I feel very strongly about personally. I always thought that with my healthy life-style
I'd be immune to having a heart attack. I now know that it takes more than exercise
and healthy eating to avoid heart disease. The good thing is - it's not difficult, you
just need to know a few things. Let's see, first things first:
For a long time we've known that exercise and eating healthily can drastically reduce
risk of heart attacks. I know someone who's had a heart attack who
was put on a very strict exercise program and diet as part of his rehab.
Exactly, after the heart attack , exercise and healthy eating are key to strengthening
the cardiovascular system and fending off another attack. Having said that, more recent
studies suggest that no matter how much you exercise and eat healthily, If you have a
lot of stress on a regular basis, you are not in the clear for heart disease.
What exactly is it that stress does to our bodies?
Constant stress elevates the blood pressure and forms deposits on the arteries, just like
bad eating habits. It can also make it harder to sleep, eat well, quit smoking and exercise.
Speaking of sleep: We're finding if you don't get enough of it or you don't sleep well over
a long period of time that in itself is a separate risk factor for heart disease.
Studies have linked short-term sleep deprivation with contributors to heart disease, like high
cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure.
Wow that's quite scary. Being a mum of a 20 month old who got us up about 5 times a night
until about 2 months ago, I know what sleep deprivation feels like and of course I had
very little control over my own sleep. I suppose that in this situation tamping down the stress,
eating healthily and exercising is even more important.
It must be very hard to keep it together when you only get an hour or two of uninterrupted
sleep and yes making sure that you are doing as well as you can on the other 3 fronts becomes
even more important. In our Winter Self Care Boost program we'll
help you create simple rituals that'll reduce your stress, and help you sleep better
at least if you are not being woken by a baby. Come and join us for a more relaxed and joyful
winter holiday season. Click the link below for more information on the program and to
register.