Heart-healthy Christmas suggestions from St. Vincent’s Healthcare

Billings, Montana – According to St. Vincent’s Healthcare cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Tas Salaris, there is an annual increase in the risk of heart attacks around the holidays. For this reason, he advises everyone to try to maintain healthy habits.

He advised sticking to your regular schedule during the holidays and stressing the need to remember to take your prescriptions on time, watch what you eat, and get regular exercise.

“Maintaining exercise is very important, and the holidays are very stressful, and one of the best treatments for stress is exercise in addition exercise is very important for the heart. The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of physical activity a week,” he said.

Additionally, Dr. Saliaris advised not to disregard any of the more concerning signs that could indicate a Christmas heart attack. He added that St. Vincent’s Healthcare and other nearby hospitals encounter more heart attack cases on December 25–26 and even into January 1st than they do the rest of the year.

He said, “We need to be aware of the symptoms of heart attack and we want to make sure we are taking care of ourselves through the holidays, there is a tendency to not want to miss or ruin the holiday party holiday festivities, the problem with that is sometimes people delay care and that causes bigger issues.”

Dr. Saliaris advised being mindful of symptoms such as shortness of breath and pain in the arm, jaw, or chest. He exhorts people to get medical help whenever they need it, even if it means doing so in the middle of a holiday celebration.