It may be hot and humid today, but fall is just around the corner with winter close behind. Do you know what comes with winter? Would you believe the answer is heart disease?
A study of over 100,000 people, between the ages of 35 – 80, in seven countries looked at several heart disease risk factors:
- Waist circumference
- Blood lipids (cholesterol)
- Sugar levels
- Blood Pressure
- Total Body Mass (BMI)
What the researchers found was that in January and February the indicators for heart disease were at their peak. For example, waist circumference increased by a centimeter. The study doesn’t offer any explanation for the phenomenon, they put forward that people eat differently in the winter – less fresh fruit and vegetables are available; and cold weather can prevent regular outdoor exercising.
What can you take from this study? Make a plan for a heart healthy winter. Don’t fall in to dietary ruts and make arrangements for maintaining physical activity. If you need help, you can find more information on our Weight Wellness Program here. The Woman’s Clinic of Jackson and Madison, have made a commitment to help our patients achieve their personal goals of being as healthy as possible.
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