(ProActive Sports Rehab offers a weekly column promoting health, fitness and physical therapy. Please be sure to check back each week for a new topic!)
It’s no wonder our health often takes a backseat to the cheerful chaos of this season, but incorporating a few simple tips can help change this. Here’s how to get started.
Get moving. While our schedules may feel more active, our workout routines may take a break and we lose out on the benefits of exercise. It’s also important to move and be physical if we take long car rides or plane trips to visit family and friends. Thrombosis Canada recommends taking short walking breaks during these treks to de-stress and to reduce the risk of developing blood clots, or thrombosis, from inactivity.
Focus on fun, not food. Instead of letting calorie-rich meals be the center of your celebrations, keep the attention on active traditions like trimming the tree or going ice-skating. When you do enjoy your favorite treats and cocktails, keep it to one night of indulging, not a whole season, to avoid overeating. Throughout the season, pick a passion project like organizing family photos to keep you busy.
Be generous with yourself. Remember that you’re likely overexerting and overextending yourself right now, so take a few extra steps to nourish your mind and body. Stay hydrated, get plenty of sleep and be flexible when things don’t go as planned.
Learn the signs of serious conditions. It’s common to experience a bit of anxiety and tiredness with added social and family commitments. But knowing the signs of some serious health conditions can help you determine whether it’s regular holiday strain or you need to see your doctor. For example, atrial fibrillation has symptoms that we might associate with stress, like rapid heartbeat and fatigue, but is a condition that may lead to further complications and requires medical treatment.
Find more information at www.thrombosiscanada.ca.
— News Canada
ProActive Sports Rehab, with offices in Hamburg and West Seneca, offers one-on-one physical therapy and rehabilitation services. For more information, please visit http://proactivesportsrehab.com or call 674-9600 (West Seneca office) or 648-8700 (Hamburg office). You can also follow ProActive Sports Rehab on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProActiveSportsRehab for frequent updates.
