Top 10 Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack This Super Bowl

ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Heart Association estimates that 80 million adult Americans (one in three) suffer from some type of cardiovascular disease. Many of those people will die of a heart attack while watching an exciting sports event like the Super Bowl or World Cup where the tension and stress levels are high.

In a comparison of death rates from heart attacks in 2002 and 2001, doctors in Switzerland found that deaths from heart attacks outside the hospital were 60% higher during the World Cup. And research in the British Medical Journal found that heart attacks increased by 25% when England lost to Argentina in a penalty shoot-out during the 1998 World Cup.

But, don't let this news put a damper on your Super Bowl party plans. Dr. Al Sears, M.D. certified nutritionist and heart health doctor, has some great advice for watching the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts battle it out.

"We can't expect to reverse years of bad diet and exercise habits overnight, but there are still some key strategies that will ensure you're still alive when the final whistle blows," assures Dr. Al Sears M.D., author of The Doctor's Heart Cure, Beyond the Modern Myths of Diet and Exercise: The Clinically-Proven Plan of Breakthrough Health Secrets That Helps You Build a Powerful, Disease-Free Heart.

Dr. Sears wants to help you quickly get ready with his top 10 easy ways you can avoid a heart attack -- while watching the Super Bowl -- and beyond the final whistle:

1. Exercise before the game and again during half time. Short bursts of activity are more helpful and five to ten minutes of physical activity is ideal. Stretching, jumping rope, or throwing a football with friends are simple and easy ways to relax your body and mind before the big game.
2. Take CoQ10 before the game. Co-enzyme Q10 is a powerful anti-oxidant that reduces your risk of heart disease.
3. Limit your intake of alcohol and tobacco.  Over-consumption of these two potentially dangerous substances is a leading risk factor for sudden cardiac arrest.
4. Eat in moderation. Many heart attacks are reported to occur after eating an exceptionally large meal.
5. Choose healthy snacks like broccoli, cauliflower, fruits with the skin, seeds, and nuts. Avoid binging on chips, pizza, and other salty and fatty foods.
6. During the commercials, take a break. Getting off the couch, moving around, and talking to friends helps break up the intensity of an exciting game.
7. Manage your anger. If the official makes a bad call, don't take it personally. Excess anger and yelling at the TV will increase your chances of heart problems.
8. Avoid gambling or only wager an amount you're comfortable losing. Excess adrenaline caused by excitement, worry, or excess anxiety increases the risk of heart attack.
9. Pay attention to the warning signs, which are heart attack, dizziness, chest pain, trouble breathing, and nausea. If you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
10. Make a fitness program a regular part of your daily life. It's easy. In just 12 minutes a day, you can get a lean, fit, disease-free body. And, you don't need any expensive equipment, trainers, or a gym membership.

Don't become a statistic and don't fall prey to conventional medical advice.

About Dr. Al Sears:

DR. AL SEARS is the author of 14 books on health and wellness, including The Doctor's Heart Cure (Dragon Door Publications, 2004). In addition to being Board-Certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine, Dr. Sears is an ACE-Certified Fitness Trainer and a Certified Nutrition Specialist. Find out more about Dr. Sears 12-minute fitness program in his new book, P.A.C.E. The 12-Minute Fitness Revolution. For more information, please visit www.pacerevolution.com.

SOURCE Dr. Al Sears