Twas the Night before Chrismas and all through the house 
Not a creature was stirring - except for a  heart!??!!!!
A couple of our recipients were lucky, and blessed, to get transplanted the weekend of Christmas!!!  You can see in this video how a donor heart arrives to the operating room field! You also can get a glimpse of the OR team!!! It takes a village to care for one patient!!!!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!!!
 
Christmas weekend!! Time to visit family, enjoy some R&R, and eat, drink and be merry with friends!!! There is no other time like this in the year!  While traveling you also need to take care of that "ticker" of yours and here are some good common sense pieces of advice:
           
            Pack your medicines
            Traveling is fun, but leaving needed medications can really put a dent on the vacation.  Make a list of those medicines you are taking.  Use that list as a checklist when packing.  I typically email the lists to my own email, my assistant and my wife because I am known to forget or misplace things!  Being over the top by doing this will give you peace of mind when you travel.
           
            Take your time getting there
            This time of year is one of the busiest traveling times!  Alleviate some of the stress that comes with waiting in lines or traffic by giving yourself enough time to get to your final destination.   We all know how stress and anxiety elevate blood pressure and heart rate.  Things that can increase the work of your heart!  To avoid this just give yourself enough time to travel and prepare for the ride!!!!
 
            Take time to rest
            While that alarm clock is not going to be set at 6 am, make sure to get those coveted 8 hours of sleep!  Much of the holidays are spent either traveling from one place to another, sleeping in hotels, or in someone’s home. This heavy pace and lack of usual comforts can easily disturb your sleeping patterns and make you even more tired than a regular work week!  So just before you plan on hitting the sack, unwind by either reading a book or a newspaper, or listening to some relaxing music.   Your tired eyelids will soon shut down
 
            Keep hydrated
            Cold does not mean you don’t sweat! You probably know that when your on the slopes but people with all those layers loss fluid probably at a faster rate than most.  Keep a bottle of water close to you and make sure you are drinking plenty while doing any outside activity.  Needles to say if you do decide to indulge in some “eggnog” make sure you alternate with each cup a 8 oz glass or bottle of water!  Please drink responsibly and keep hydrated!!!!!
 
 
And the end of it all REMEMBER… ITS CHRISTMAS!!!! HAVE FUN!!!!
 
Dr. Gonzo

Welcome to Ask Dr Gonzo Anything!!!  The goal of this blog is to provide information and educate folks about cardiac diseases. We will use printed material, video posting and professional opinions to help you navigate through the world of cardiovasvular health. Please leave likes and comments to posts!!