The holiday season offers times of warmth, joy, and treasured times with family and friends. Statistics show that the holiday season also goes hand in hand with a spike in severe health conditions. Christmas and New Year’s Day maintain an unfortunate relationship with a sharp rise in heart attacks for both men and women. A study from the Journal of Circulation determined that, “The number of cardiac deaths is higher on December 25th than on any other day of the year, second highest on December 26, and third highest on January 1.”

December brings a natural increase in stress levels for many people. An increased risk of heart attacks stems from the added pressures of expectations and family dynamics. Buying gifts, financial strains, and increased consumption of sugar, salt, and alcohol add to the stress-load. Most people will not suffer heart attacks this holiday season, but people need to proactively acknowledge that stress levels do increase in December and early January compared to other times of the year. Financial strains and unhealthy food consumption before Christmas usually lead to guilt, weight gain, and anxiety over bank statements after Christmas.

The key to staying energetic, healthy, and sane during and after the holiday season does not involve simply choosing to not be stressed. That unrealistic mantra does nothing to help lower stress. Limiting alcohol consumption and sugar overload certainly helps, but everyone can make allowances to indulge in certain times and places. The ultimate solution to overcoming stress begins with increasing and improving the body’s ability to adapt and respond positively to stressful conditions.

Chiropractors take a unique approach to health, disease, and stress. Other health professionals focus on changing the environment to suit the weakened body. Chiropractors emphasize strengthening the body to successfully overcome the environment. Three simple, yet effective ways to increase the body’s resiliency and ability to mitigate the effects brought on by stress:

1) Chiropractic – Chiropractic adjustments enable the body’s ability to deal with stress. A key indicator to lowering stress while improving health and longevity comes from an increase in heart rate variability. A chiropractic adjustment, particularly in the upper neck, scientifically improves heart rate variability according to a 2013 study from the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
2) Sleep – Get at least seven to eight hours of sleep per night. Sleep proves vital to off-setting the effects of stress. A key to getting adequate sleep starts with getting to bed on time. Proper sleep combined with chiropractic adjustments helps balance the nervous system and improve the body’s ability to adapt to stress.
3) Water – Thirst often feels like hunger. People occasionally indulge during the holidays. Indulging out of choice looks much different than overconsuming because the body simply wants hydration. Make a practice of drinking water regularly and/or consuming a big glass of water every few hours. More water will reduce blood sugar and protect the waistline. The body will also experience less stress and a greater ability to adapt and heal.

The greatest season for stress occurs from late-November to early-January. Heightened awareness and a few
simple strategies empower families to be better equipped to encounter some of the natural stressors that occur at the end of the calendar year. Chiropractic helps families focus on what really matters during the holiday season.

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2013
“Suboccipital decompression enhances heart rate variability indices of cardiac control in healthy subjects.” Paul D Giles 1, Kendi L Hensel, Christina F Pacchia, Michael L Smith