As we see the chances of snow and colder weather creeping up on us, we may worry about staying healthy in the coming months. Winter in Alaska especially brings both cold and darkness. This may make you feel less motivated to stay active, but it is so important to keep up with regular activity and a healthy diet. When we get caught up in our busy lives, we can get swept up by bad habits or lack of good habits. These bad habits can lead to poor health, especially poor heart health. So what can we do to keep our heart healthy during this winter season?
Exercise regularly
We’re not suggesting you go out and begin exercising heavily right away, but we do suggest that you try to continue your regular exercise habits. Try to get 30-60 minutes of exercise in a day. You do not have to join a gym, you could take a walk, do an exercise video, go skiing, etc.
Keep your stress levels down
Too much stress in your life can cause negative effects on your body and your health. With excess stress, your blood pressure can get out of control. Take it easy and work on relaxation techniques. Learn your triggers and figure out what you can do to calm down.
Eat a healthy diet
Try your best to maintain a colorful diet. Focus on the greens, as always, and avoid too much red meat and processed foods as they can lead to heart disease. Steer clear of a high sodium diet as well.
Avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits
If you smoke, quit smoking. It leads to more health issues than just heart disease. Get enough sleep. Don’t drink too heavily, all that jazz.
Try to stay motivated to keep a healthy lifestyle this winter. It will help your body as well as your mind. The changing of the seasons can be difficult. Even having a minor change in our life can alter our habits. We want this change to be for the better. We hope you take the initiative to keep or incorporate these positive habits into your life.
If you have any questions or concerns about your heart health, please consult your doctor. If you have any additional tips, feel free to let us know.
You can always contact us if you’d like to schedule an appointment with us or if you have any comments or questions.
