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Stay heart healthy during the holidays

As joyful as the holiday season can be, it is also one of the unhealthiest times of the year for many of us.

Overindulging, reduced sleep, added stress and little to no time for exercise can take a toll on our health and cause severe strain on our cardiovascular system. Studies suggest heart attacks are more common around the holidays (December and January).

Follow these tips to help make this season a little more merry and whole lot safer on your heart:

Holiday Eating Tips: Party Without Packing On the Pounds

Skip the heaping helping of anxiety this holiday season by making smart eating choices no matter how many parties you attend. You can avoid packing on the pounds over the next couple of weeks and set yourself up for a healthy start to the New Year. It might take a bit of focus, but by following the tips below, you’ll be both eating well and feeling great!

Healthy Ways to Handle Holiday Stress

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! So says a classic song of the holiday season. Or is it? It's no secret that the holidays can be an incredibly stressful time.

The pressure of buying gifts, hosting guests, traveling and managing a chaotic calendar of events can bring on physical and emotional discomfort. If the holidays sometimes leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed, you’re not alone! Here are some strategies to help de-stress your holidays for a more joyful season.

6 Busted Diabetes Myths

There are 30 million people in the United States living with diabetes, but one in four do not even know they are living with this condition. In addition to those millions, another 84 million adults, teenagers and children have prediabetes, but 90% are unaware. These numbers show the need to bring awareness to diabetes and clear up any myths the surround this condition.

Discover the truth about diabetes below and share with your friends and family.

First, a brief explanation of diabetes:

69-Year-Old Turns to Physical Therapy: ‘Now I wake up in the morning with a purpose’

Four weeks.

Four weeks of physical therapy sessions at the Armed Services YMCA Rehabilitation Clinic restored the hope, happiness and health of a sixty-nine-year-old Belton woman.

“When I look back to last year compared to now, I am an entirely different person. It took this physical therapy to make it happen,” Pearl Fellingham explained.

Before beginning physical therapy, Fellingham experienced severe pain, particularly in her back.

“Fourteen months ago, I fell backwards and two of my vertebrae in my back collapsed,” Fellingham said.

Risks Associated with Having High Blood Pressure

Risks Associated with Having High Blood Pressure

About 75 million Americans have high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Having high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack or stroke, which are two of the leading causes of death in the United States.

Two knee replacement surgeries, new lease on life for Temple woman

For ten years, Sharon Kleypas suffered from severe joint pain.

“I’ve had several autoimmune diseases which led to bad joint pain,” Kleypas explained. “I was getting injections in my knees for osteoarthritis for about 10 years.”

Pain in both knees began to interfere with daily activities for the 66-year-old.

“I would dread walking from one end of the house to the other, or even walking from the car to the house,” Kleypas said. “I was miserable and could barely play with my grandkids.”

Little Hearts in a Big Body: Childhood Obesity’s Effect on Future Cardiovascular State

Childhood obesity is becoming one of the biggest health issues facing our country today. Over the past three decades, the rate of childhood obesity has tripled with one in three children and teenagers in the United States are classified as overweight or obese. This is not only damaging to children when they are young, but research has shown that that being obese during developing years show risk factors for developing heart disease later in life.

Breastfeeding: Big Questions and Local Answers

Breastfeeding is a big part of motherhood during the early stages of your baby’s life. Even if you know how important this choice is for your baby, breastfeeding can be difficult to get right at the beginning and there can be struggles even experienced moms face. The good news is that Seton Medical Center Harker Heights has a team dedicated to helping moms have the best breastfeeding experience possible.

Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke: Protecting Your Child

Developing a heat-related illness is one of the biggest hazards for children, especially those who participate in sports and other activities in extreme heat. As August temperatures rise here in Central Texas, so does the risk of developing heat exhaustion and heat stroke. You know heatstroke and heat exhaustion are threats to your child, but do you understand the difference?