According to an expert, the anxieties of trying to make the holiday season a memorable and a happy time can induce heart problem risks , especially for women.
Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer, a cardiologist at Houston Methodist Hospital's Heart and Vascular Center, says that the pressures of doing different activities for the holiday season like cooking, organizing family gatherings and the like can lead to stress on women that can eventually damage their hearts.
Heart related problems due to stress can take place when stress hormones weaken the left ventricle of the heart which is its primary pumping chamber. The condition greatly affects those women in their late 50s to mid-70s.
As per Kurrelmeyer, she believes that those who suffers this kind of condition can potentially acquire chest pains or shortness of breath after severe stress, may it be emotional or physical. Commonly, cases like these are being treated by beta blockers or ACE inhibitors that's why if a person experiences any of the symptoms, one must have an echocardiogram as soon as possible.
Especially that the holiday season is already in the horizon, it can really generate a spike in blood pressure of many women which in turn, can put them at a heightened risk for heart palpitations, chest pains or even stroke. Moreover, when stressed, women with medical history of high blood pressure requires a closer monitoring due to their condition.
Kurrelmeyer have also noted that by doing things that can possibly alleviate stress and taking time for yourself especially during the holiday season is also vital for one's health.
She concludes that through exercise by either walking, running, doing yoga, meditation or even just a nice walk with a loved one as long as you are diverted from being stressed out, you have to make it happen. Supposedly, rather than spending it with doctors in an emergency room, the holidays should be joyous time spent with family and friends.
