Carolina Heart And Leg Center, P.A.
It is officially the holiday season, and many people celebrate by traveling. Unfortunately, certain travelers overlook the impact that long trips have on their health. Extended periods of immobility when traveling elevate the risk of serious cardiovascular complications.
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, and pumpkin pie must mean it’s Thanksgiving! The biggest meal of the year where we pile our plates high with mouth-watering food.
Statistics show, heart attacks do increase during the holidays by 5%.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, it is time to celebrate with food and family. However, holiday season travel, family visits, financial strain, and high expectations can cause stress this time of year. The added strain is unhealthy on your heart.
Varicose veins happen when there is a valve leak or a faulty vein, causing blood to flow backward and pool in the vein. The vein walls weaken, stretch, and bulge. Although the concern about varicose veins is often cosmetic, they are not something to ignore.
Did you now that October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month? Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart abruptly stops beating without warning. Without a beating heart, blood stops flowing to the vital organs and death can follow within minutes. Sudden cardiac arrest accounts for more than 350,000 U.S. deaths a year; that is more than breast cancer, lung cancer, or AIDS.
Circulation is the process of the heart pumping blood throughout the body. As blood circulates, it delivers nutrients and oxygen to the body’s cells and transfers waste away. Good circulation is essential for a healthy life.
Smoking damages nearly every organ in the body, including blood vessels. The chemicals in cigarettes thicken blood and obstruct the flow of oxygen throughout the body. Nicotine hardens and constrains the arteries, slowing circulation and increasing the risk of blockages. One cigarette can damage microvessels to the point of restricting blood flow in the toes for hours.
September calls more attention to cardiovascular health because it is Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Awareness Month!
The US Government’s Dietary Guidelines recommends that all Americans limit the amount of added sugars in their diet to less than 10% of daily calories. “Added sugars” are any sugar or syrup added to food or beverages during processing or preparation. Most Americans consume too many added sugars, often from sugary drinks, and junk food. One out of ten people gets ¼ or more of their calories from sugar.
