Tips from the American Heart Association

DALLAS, Oct. 9 -- Between parties, late nights,
feasts and traveling, the holidays can play havoc with a health regimen.
The American Heart Association provides tools and tips to ensure that
positive health habits play an important part of any holiday celebration.
Move More This Season
Make a New Year's resolution to join Start!, the American Heart
Association's worksite wellness campaign, by going to "MyStart! Online" for
access to a free fitness and nutrition tracker and to find out how you can
get in better shape and your place of business can become fit-friendly.
For many women, the winter months mean less physical activity. But you
can manage to fit in fitness during the busy holiday season with help from
the free Choose To Move program. This 12-week physical activity plan can
help women of all ages and lifestyles focus on fitness. The program offers
exercise and nutrition tips along with flavorful and easy-to-prepare
recipes.
Cold weather doesn't have to mean couch time for kids. Visit the
Parents section of HealthierGeneration.org, where you will find creative
ideas on how to keep your family moving during the winter months.
Eat Your Way to a Healthier Holiday
Because the winter months are often a time to feast, eat wisely and
Face the Fats by familiarizing yourself with trans and saturated fat, and
replace them with "better" fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated
fats.
Before you head to the supermarket, use the American Heart
Association's free online grocery list builder to create a heart-healthy
shopping list filled with products bearing the heart-check mark. It's your
assurance the food is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and/or high in
whole grains. Remember Your Risks during the Holidays
If you are one of the 100 million Americans who have high blood
pressure, talk to your doctor before you are exposed to colds and the flu
this holiday season. High blood pressure patients need to be aware that
many common decongestants can raise their blood pressure even more and may
conflict with prescribed blood pressure medications.
The rate of depression in the population peaks during holiday months. A
heart or stroke patient who has recently suffered an event may be
particularly vulnerable. The American Heart Association has resources to
help manage and identify depression for both patients and their caregivers.
Giving From the Heart
This holiday season, not only can you give gifts that friends and
family will want or need, but you will also be supporting American Heart
Association programs.
Go Red For Women merchandise can be purchased online at ShopGoRed.org
to help support the movement's mission: empowering women to wipe out heart
disease, their No. 1 killer.
Power To End Stroke merchandise such as tote bags, gym bags, clothing,
cookbooks and more can be purchased online at ShopPower.org. Your purchase
supports the Power To End Stroke campaign, which is targeted toward African
Americans, who have an increased risk of stroke compared to other groups.
To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit americanheart.org/holiday.
About the American Heart Association
Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation's
oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building
healthier lives, free of heart disease and stroke. These diseases,
America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases
claim over 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2005-06 the association
invested over $543 million in research, professional and public education,
advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer,
healthier lives. To learn more, call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit
americanheart.org.


SOURCE American Heart Association