When you get involved with WomenHeart as a WomenHeart Champion--meaning you've gone through the training program at the Mayo Clinic--you get paired up with a more experienced volunteer, usually someone local to you if possible, and she's called your Big Sister (on the WomenHeart message board, we refer to each other, Champion or not, as "heart-sisters," since we're all united by our cardiac problems).
My "Big Sister," Marietta, is going to be on The Dr. Oz Show on Thursday, Dec. 17th. His program that day is about people who've had heart attacks during the holidays, the so-called Merry Christmas Coronary and/or Happy New Year Heart Attack, which you can read about here:
http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/news/campusnews/2009/12/07/doctors-warn-against-holiday-heart-attack-spike.101760
To reiterate the tips listed at the end of the article:
Don't stuff yourself.
Watch your sodium and alcohol intakes.
Do what you need to do to reduce your stress.
Be vigilant about taking your medicines.
And--if you experience any symptoms, get medical help immediately. You're not doing anyone any favors by ignoring your chest pain; delay now could be costly down the road.
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