The end of year, Christmas, and the holidays surrounding it can be a complex time of year, and one that is highly stressful for most. End of year parties; the school year finishes up; purchasing the ‘right’ Christmas presents; reflecting on the year gone and projecting into the new; where to hold Christmas lunch. Then there is family! What baggage gets dragged out of the closet this Christmas; who is, and who is not, speaking to whom; where will the kids be this Christmas.
It is no wonder that this time of year is when you are at greatest risk of suffering and dying from a heart attack. Initially the research done for this was done in the Northern Hemisphere, with this period of time coinciding with winter. This is known to be a time of higher deaths from heart attack due to the seasonal variations such as lower temperature and lower Vitamin D levels.
What about the Southern Hemisphere? Due to it being summer south of the equator there must be a difference.
25 years of death records from New Zealand were looked at to see if there was any correlation with results from the north. They found that ‘The Christmas holidays are indeed a time of higher cardiac deaths with a significantly higher death rate’.
So, what can you do so as not to become a statistic?
The greatest advice I have been given for this is from my wife, Ivanka:
Control What You CAN Control; LET GO Of What You CAN’T
YOU CAN NOT CONTROL the crowds; other people; how people react; other’s emotions; the traffic; the weather; other members of the family; or if someone does not like prawns or turkey. YOU CAN CONTROL your alcohol consumption; what you say; your reactions to what is said; what and how much you eat; whether you do or do not exercise; and your outlook.
Enjoy this time of year for all of the fun and joy that it brings. Take a step back, smile, slow down, and most importantly remember why it is celebrated.
In addition, managing stress effectively during the holiday season is vital. Consulting a chiropractor can provide you with strategies to cope with holiday stress, including ways to deal with back pain caused by long hours of shopping or cooking.
