Take Care of Your Health This Holiday Season - A Message from a Mississauga Chiropractor

The one disease that kills more people annually than any other is HEART DISEASE, with heart attacks making up the majority of deaths that are related to heart disease. The reason why this is so important to understand during the holidays is because research has shown a remarkable relationship between the holiday season and heart attacks for both men and women.

Stress and Other Health Risks During the Holidays

According to a study from the Journal of Circulation, December 25th holds the highest number of cardiac deaths than any other day of the year. Additionally, the second and third highest occur on December 26th and January 1st respectively. This makes sense, as December poses as the most stressful month of the year. The possible factors include financial strain, busy schedules and poor diet, including the higher consumption of sugar, salt and alcohol. The study continues to add that people tend to gain more weight during the holiday season, especially taking in more salt, which adds more stress onto an already weakened heart. All of the added stress during the season taxes the heart and cardiovascular system, increasing the likelihood and risk of a heart related event.

Heart Attack Facts

- More heart attacks occur on Mondays than any other day of the week. The second most occur on Saturdays.

- Most heart attacks happen during the early hours in the morning, usually between 4:00-10:00am. This is when blood platelets are stickier and increased adrenaline is released from the adrenal glands, which can trigger the rupture of plaques in arteries. 

- Almost half of women who have heart attacks will die by the end of the first year following their attack. 

- Many heart attack survivors experience the attack as the first sign of coronary heart disease. Interesting enough, there usually are no pain or symptoms present before the attack happens. 

- Heart attacks are 27% more likely to occur around a victim’s birthday, especially in the female population and those with high blood pressure.

What You Can Do to Improve Your Health This Holiday Season

High blood pressure plagues the majority of heart attack victims and when kept within normal ranges, it can reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke. This can be done by avoiding bad foods, getting adequate hours of sleep, and committing just minutes of exercise every day.

Alternatively, the most important health habit associated with inclusively reducing multiple causes of heart disease comes from regular Chiropractic adjustments. Proper alignment of the spine and nervous system reduces high blood pressure and all of the associated negative risks. Research from 2007 showed that a Chiropractic adjustment delivered to the atlas vertebra (the highest in the neck) lowered blood pressure greater than the use of two blood pressure-lowering medications given in combination. The most surprising result of the study determined that all of the benefits of an adjustment and reduction in blood pressure can occur without any previous presence or history of neck or back pain. Corrections administered to misaligned vertebra took place in patients without adverse spinal symptoms. That means CHIROPRACTIC BENEFITS YOUR HEALTH WHETHER YOU HAVE PAIN OR NOT! 

Numerous other studies and qualified research prove the immeasurable health benefits of Chiropractic care for adults, children, and infants. That’s right! Chiropractic is great for any age. Neck and back pain do not need to be present for every member of the family to experience the optimal health potential that results from regular Chiropractic adjustments. Every Chiropractic adjustment removes stress from the nervous system and allows the heart, immune system, digestion, and every other system to function more efficiently. Studies on heart disease determine that the holiday season becomes the most important time of year to begin scheduling Chiropractic appointments and nervous system check-ups because of the negative effects stress can have on your health. December brings holidays meant for joy and family, not stress and anxiety. Heart disease takes no vacations, but Chiropractic provides health for the holidays.

Your Mississauga Chiropractor is Ready to Help

While you enjoy your holidays, make sure to take proper care of your health as well. If you have any further questions or would like to book a time to talk to us about your health, do not hesitate to contact us at (905)821-4951.