Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 51
To do this, spend time outdoors and
use a nonstrenuous exercise routine
to ease your heart into the season.
And, of course, eat a heart healthy
diet, limit stress and find joys in the
unique attributes of winter.
JOINTS
Management, notes that colder weather
increases the amount of calories
burned while exercising. This may
make exercise feel more strenuous.
"In addition," Alexander says, "in cold
weather, blood vessels narrow, fluid and
heat loss are accelerated, and tightened
airways make breathing more difficult."
Alexander advises creating a threemonth winter calendar of your weekly
workout plans. "Tangible commitment
is the first step to action," she says.
"It's important to find healthy ways to
reward yourself for staying on track
and, even better, commit yourself to a
spring event by registering for a 5K or
a 10K. This will keep you on track and
motivated all winter long."
PHOTOS BY THINKSTOCK
HEART
"It may not come as a
surprise that cold weather
can be a challenge for
our heart and vascular system,"
says Mary Ellen Bergh, MD, GMC
cardiologist. "In cold weather, our
bodies constrict the blood vessels in
our skin in an effort to limit heat loss
so that our internal organs maintain a
constant temperature." These vascular
adjustments are vital to survival, but
they can put an extra load on the heart
by increasing blood pressure.
In winter, we also tend to drift
into hibernation mode, skipping
healthy lifestyle habits like eating
well, exercising and managing stress.
When we let these heart healthy
habits slide, we're asking our heart
to be like a strong engine without
maintaining it regularly.
This additional strain can manifest
as chest pain or hypertension. This is
particularly true when we enter the
cold to pursue vigorous activity, such
as clearing snow and ice from a walkway.
Abrupt activity like this is associated
with the development of angina, or
heart pain.
Dr. Bergh advises that to prevent such
hardship on your heart, it's important to
acclimatize yourself to winter weather.
Many who have arthritis
or other inflammatory
conditions notice the
change in temperature. "Colder weather
can cause swelling in the joints,"
says Mary Albert, MD, an orthopedic
surgeon affiliated with GMC, "which
then irritates the nerves and increases
pain and discomfort. This can be
compounded by a change in circulation,
both from constricted blood vessels
and some redirected blood flow."
When it comes to soothing achy and
stiff joints, Dr. Albert recommends
using heat, like warm water and
heating pads, or relieving tension with
a massage.
"Colder temperatures and shorter days
put a damper on our exercise routines,"
Dr. Albert says, "and immobility just
makes joint pain worse. Regular exercise
and stretching will decrease muscle pain
and stiffness." n
APPOINTMENTS
Year-Round
Wellness
During any season, healthy
habits include eating a balanced
diet, staying hydrated, getting
regular exercise, relieving
stress and keeping routine
medical appointments. A
doctor can help you with all
of these areas. To find the
perfect physician for you, visit
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/
physician.
W INT E R 2 01 6
51
http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/physician
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Contents
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 2
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Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover3
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2016 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover4
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020spring-gmc
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018spring-gmc
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