While the winter season is full of heart-warming and soul-warming celebrations it can also bring about some unexpected risks to your heart.

Winter is a time when the death rate and hospitalizations due to stroke and heart disease tends to rise dramatically. A study was done in recent years. “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association”It was found that some heart-related deaths rose by more than 50% in certain cases.

Winter can be hard on the heart for many reasons, both obvious and unnoticed. Life Line Screening, a provider a variety of screening services, has outlined five winter traps. preventive health screenings.

1. Shorter, colder days. Darker days can cause imbalances in heart-related hormones, increase stress hormones like cortisol, or lower thresholds for cardiovascular events. Cold weather can cause a decrease in blood flow to the heart. This is due to tightening of your arteries. Warming up indoors first is a good idea, as well as stretching.

2. Disrupted routines. Many routines are disrupted by winter, including eating and sleeping as well as chores. Doing something strenuous, such as shoveling snow in the morning when you are usually inactive, can increase blood pressure and increase your risk of having a heart attack. Be patient and don’t rush.

3. Flu season. Winter is flu season, as we all know. Influenza can trigger inflammation and lead to an increase in arterial plaque stability. If you are over 65 years old or have risk factors for developing heart disease, getting a flu shot is the best way of preventing the flu.

4. Stress added to stress. Stress can be added to holiday cheer and merriment, particularly when there are financial obligations and family obligations. For some, the holidays can bring on anxiety and depression that are pre-existing and linked to strokes and heart attacks.

5. Too much joy. Winter celebrations often lead to excessive drinking and indulgence in rich foods. People tend to eat less, drink more and smoke more. If you have a workout routine, chances are you won’t stick to it. Avoid excessive caffeine and nicotine, as they can stress your heart.

Schedule a screening to check your heart health www.lifelinescreening.com.