Holidays can put stress on the heart; keep heart healthy this season

As much as the holidays are for relaxing and spending time with loved ones, it can take a toll on your heart. Between the stress they can bring and the potential to overindulge in drinks and food, there are some important things to remember as we head into the December holidays.

One of the ways to limit how much you eat during a holiday feast is to eat a healthy snack beforehand and drink lots of water. You also can eat lighter in the days leading up to the meal and after to help balance it out.

Binge drinking is also a real possibility, as you cheers in the holidays. There is a medical disorder associated with this time of year called ‘holiday heart syndrome.’ Drinking too much can throw your heart out of rhythm. The good news is its reversible, according to the National Library of Medicine, but it is better to avoid it altogether.

There are two more things to keep in mind: sleep and exercise. Both are critical year-round, but especially this time of the year. If you haven’t exercised in a while but decide to take part in the family football game for the first time in a decade, make sure your heart can handle going out for a long pass.

If you, a loved one, family or friend experience chest pain, high blood pressure, fast or slow heartbeat or any cardiac irregularity, do not hesitate to seek medical care.

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center recently received the Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award and FIVE-STAR RECIPIENT Awards in Valve Surgery, Treatment of Heart Failure and Carotid Procedures by Healthgrades, a leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. In addition, U.S. News & World Report just named Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center a HIGH PERFORMING HOSPITAL for Heart Attack and Heart Failure.

Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center has a multidisciplinary team of heart surgeons on staff at the hospital, including Dr. Nishant Patel, a cardiac surgeon, Dr. Richard Faro, a cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgeon, and Dr. Jeffrey Newman, a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Dr. Patel is an experienced cardiac surgeon specializing in adult cardiac surgery including aortic aneurysm surgery, minimally invasive heart surgery, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair and replacement, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and surgery for atrial fibrillation.

Over the last several years, Dr. Patel’s expertise in minimally invasive valve surgery, bloodless cardiac surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the Convergent Hybrid atrial fibrillation procedure has helped the hospital continue to offer the latest in heart and lung care. Dr. Patel also has developed an Enhanced Recovery after Cardiac Surgery (ERAS) program, which has shortened length of stay, improved pain control, optimized nutrition, and facilitated a faster return to full activity.

Dr. Newman focuses on adult cardiac surgery, along with expertise in traditional coronary and heart valve surgery. Dr. Faro is a highly experienced cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgeon who established the open-heart surgery unit at the hospital in the early 1980s and is the founder of the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Heart Institute. Dr. Patel, Dr. Faro and Dr. Newman’s Cardiovascular Care — Palm Beach Health Network Physician Group office is also located on the campus of Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

For more information on Cardiovascular Care at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center visit pbgmc.com or call 561-622-1411.