Beware of Christmas ham and butter-laced sides. The end-of-year holiday season is also known as the "Heart Attack Season."

"In addition to the cold weather restricting our blood circulation, most of us do things during the holidays that are very hazardous to our health, especially if we're in poor shape to begin with," says Dr. Debra Braverman, Director of External Enhanced Counterpulsation (EECP) in the Division of Cardiology at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Braverman says that the heavy meals and excess alcohol of the season, combined with poor exercising habits, can worsen our heart health. With the additional hassle of holiday travel, visits from in-laws, family quarrels and a disrupted medical schedule, it's not surprising that heart-related deaths increase by five percent at this time of the year, according to studies.

Dr. Braverman suggests five ways to guard your heart health during this holiday season:

Watch out for fatty foods and large portions – Avoid foods high in sugar, fat, cholesterol and salt offered at holiday parties. For you own holiday dinner, ensure your own dinner table has lots of veggies, fruits, lean protein and whole grains for you and your guests.

Keep exercising – Just 30 minutes of light exercise per day fortifies the heart and increase the amount of oxygen pumped to the body. Exercise also lowers blood pressure and reduces cholesterol levels.

Stop smoking – A new year means new resolutions. Put no smoking on your list before the year ends. Replace your smoking routine with a 30-minute exercise session, which helps stave off stress that can trigger nicotine cravings.

Avoid the obvious – the season makes it even more important to steer clear of the usual suspects for heart attacks. These include excessive physical strain, overeating, lack of sleep, emotional stress, cold temperatures, illegal drugs and alcohol.

Talk to your doctor – For those diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, be sure to regularly take your medications and ask your doctor about a new non-invasive treatment, called EECP which boosts circulation and overall heart health.

Dr. Braverman has successfully helped thousands of heart patients using this non-invasive therapy. Over 160 peer-reviewed publications have shown EECP to be an effective and painless treatment for reducing or eliminating chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. The new therapy also improves the ability to engage in physical activity, blood flow and quality of life.