Taking time to indulge a simple pleasure can prove beneficial for your heart health.
Thats according to experts at Rush University Medical Center, who identify regular enjoyment of the simpler things in life as key to an individuals health resources.
“Spending just 30 minutes a day doing something you enjoy can go a long way toward beating the stressors of everyday life,” says Dr. Annabelle Volgman, director of the Rush Heart Center for Women.
Good ways of winding down include meditation and regular exercise, which may further assist in lowering blood pressure and the risk of associated problems such as stroke and heart disease.
If meditation and exercise sound too much like hard work during the holiday season, simply reading a book or taking a long soak in the tub can help to lower stress levels, the experts say.
Even a glass of red wine in the evening can assist in keeping heart disease at bay as well as potentially reducing your risk of depression and some forms of cancer.
According to government figures, heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Americans, closely followed by cancer. 