Heart to Heart Talk: How to Keep the Heart Healthy During Festivals

How Do Festivals Impact Heart Health?

A festival is a time when you set away any caution regarding your health and heartfully indulge in all the celebrations. But anything and everything that you do and don’t do impacts your health in some way. Here are a few ways in which festivals can affect your health.

Fasting and High Blood Pressure

Most festivals in India include rituals that insist on fasting. It is also known to be beneficial for your heart as it may reduce blood pressure. However, if you have a heart problem, maintain caution while fasting and always consult a doctor beforehand, as any electrolyte imbalance in the body due to fasting may cause an irregular heartbeat.

Feasting and High Blood Pressure

Feasting is an integral part of any celebration, especially in India. It is impossible to avoid mouth-watering traditional sweets and savouries during these festivals. However, you should be cautious of your blood sugar levels and blood pressure and consider the portion size of the food, especially if it is heavy on sugar and salt. 

You can balance the intake of high-calorie food by eating it with food rich in fibre and proteins like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid processed food, red meat, fried items, and foods that contain unhealthy fats. 

Try making sweets with skimmed milk and low-fat milk products as they contain less fat and help you in weight management. Substitute sugar with artificial sweeteners to reduce the calorie count of the food item. 

Drinks and High Blood Pressure

Most people indulge in excessive alcohol consumption during gatherings and parties, which may result in an increase in blood pressure, heart failure, or stroke. Along with alcohol, existing heart conditions and the stress all around the celebrations may increase your blood pressure and worsen your heart condition. 

Even without a heart problem, alcohol should be limited to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women.

Meanwhile, if you are diabetic, avoid packaged fruit juices that may contain a high amount of sugar, as they may increase your blood sugar levels and damage the blood vessels, thus increasing your blood pressure. Instead, try eating whole fruits with their skin as it contains a high amount of fibre. 

Stress and High Blood Pressure

Late-night chit-chats, endless chores, and fun activities are a part of celebrations during festivals. This can lead to disrupted sleep patterns and increase your stress levels, which in turn, may increase your blood sugar, blood pressure, and inflammation in the body. 

You should try to get at least 7 hours of sleep in a day. If you have an existing health condition, do not skip your sleep. If it is inevitable during festivals and celebrations, make sure to compensate for it by sleeping adequately the next day.

Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy During the Festival Season

Let us see what precautionary measures you can take to keep your heart healthy while enjoying the fun of festivals.

• If you plan on fasting, get your doctor’s approval beforehand and take special precautions to avoid low or high blood pressure. 
• Taking your medications on time and as prescribed can help you avoid problems associated with high and low blood pressure. Do not forget to take your medications and check whether they can be taken on an empty stomach or not.
• Keep yourself hydrated as dehydration can lead to constriction of the blood vessels and result in high blood pressure.
• Have fruits and vegetable salads before your meal. This can help you feel satiated and prevent overeating.
• Keep yourself active and exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. This can help improve your metabolism and reduce the strain on your heart.
• Reduce alcohol consumption as it can raise your blood pressure to unhealthy levels.
• Stay away from loud noise and anything that triggers stress.

When to See a Doctor?

High blood pressure does not usually have specific signs and symptoms until it reaches a life-threatening stage. 

You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms of a hypertensive crisis:

• Severe anxiety
• Blurred vision
• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unresponsiveness