Medicare provides coverage for both outpatient and inpatient mental health care services and programs to help beneficiaries with anxiety, depression and other mental health needs. Here is what you should know.

Outpatient Coverage

If you are enrolled in original Medicare, your Part B coverage will pay 80% of the costs for mental health services after you have met the annual Part B deductible of $257. The covered services include counseling and mental health care provided outside a hospital. This includes visits to a doctor’s or therapist’s office, hospital outpatient departments or community health centers. These services can also be received via telehealth providers. The remaining 20% of costs will be the beneficiary’s responsibility or may be covered by a Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) Policy.

Medicare also gives the expanded option of getting treatment through a variety of health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, clinical social workers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. To be eligible for this coverage, you must choose a participating provider that accepts Medicare assignment, which means they accept Medicare’s approved amount as full payment for a service.

If you choose a nonparticipating provider who accepts Medicare but does not agree to Medicare’s payment schedule, you may be responsible for up to 35% of costs. Additionally, if you choose a provider that has opted out of Medicare, you will be responsible for the entire cost.

To locate a mental health care professional in your area that accepts Medicare, go to Medicare.gov/care-compare, click on “Doctors & clinicians” and type in your location, followed by “clinical psychologist” or “psychiatry” in the Name or Keyword box. You can also get this information by calling Medicare at 800-633-4227.

Inpatient Coverage

If you need mental health services provided in a general or psychiatric hospital, original Medicare Part A covers these services after you have met your Part A deductible of $1,676. Your doctor will determine which type of hospital setting you will need. If you receive care in a psychiatric hospital, Medicare covers up to 190 days of inpatient care for your lifetime. If you have reached your 190-day limit but need additional care, Medicare may cover additional inpatient care at a general hospital.

Additional Coverage

In addition to outpatient and inpatient mental health services, Medicare will pay for one depression screening per year which can be done in a primary care doctor’s office or clinic. If you have a Medicare prescription drug plan, most medications used to treat mental health conditions are covered too.

Medicare Advantage Coverage

If you get your Medicare benefits through a private Medicare Advantage plan, the plan will provide the same coverage as original Medicare but may impose different rules and will likely require you to see an in-network provider. You should contact your plan directly for details.

For more information, call Medicare at 800-633-4227 and request a copy of publication #10184 Medicare & Your Mental Health Benefits, or read it online at Medicare.gov.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Excessive amounts of earwax can cause health problems including hearing loss or ringing in the ear. This can exacerbate other issues since hearing loss has been linked to cognitive decline and an increased risk of depression. Earwax buildup can also cause individuals to experience vertigo, which increases the risk of falls.

Earwax is a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris that is normally produced by the body to cleanse and protect the ears. For most individuals, the self-cleaning process is sufficient. But in others, including more than 30% of elderly and disabled individuals, earwax accumulates to the extent that it entirely blocks or impacts the ear canal.

The most affected are the elderly, with higher risks associated with individuals living in nursing homes or assisted living centers. Those who use hearing-aids are considered at highest at risk because the devices can push wax down into the canal.

Earwax Removal

Usually, earwax moves up and out on its own so the best way to control it is to leave it alone. However, that advice can sometimes backfire for those who accumulate excessive amounts of earwax.

The symptoms of an earwax problem can include an earache, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, an ear infection, ear itchiness or a cough due to pressure from the blockage stimulating a nerve in the ear. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult with your doctor about using a softening agent to help the wax leave the ear or to remove it more easily.

If you prefer a milder approach, talk with your doctor about using baby oil or mineral oil. Using an eyedropper, place a drop or two into your ear, tilt your head so the ear is pointing up toward the ceiling and stay in that position for a minute or two to let the fluid flow down to the buildup. Once that is done, tilt your head in the opposite direction to let the fluid and wax drain.

Alternatively, try an over-the-counter earwax removal solution or kit, which are sold in most pharmacies. Most solution contain a form of peroxide, and some kits include a bulb syringe that you squeeze to flush your ear with warm water, if needed.

You may need to repeat this wax-softening and irrigation procedure several times before getting rid of the excess earwax. If the symptoms do not improve after a few treatments, you should see your healthcare provider or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor to have the wax removed. Earwax removal is one of the most common ENT procedures performed. They have a variety of tools that can remove hard, stubborn earwax.

It might be tempting to poke a cotton swab, bobby pin, pencil or finger into your ear to get the gunk out, but it is best to refrain. While doing so could remove some of the wax, it may also push the wax deeper into the ear canal and increase the risk of injuring your eardrum and making the problem worse.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

1. IRA Charitable Rollover — The IRS refers to the IRA charitable rollover as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD). An individual over age 70½ is permitted to make a direct transfer from his or her IRA custodian to a qualified charity. The transfer is not included in taxable income. If the IRA owner is over age 73, the distribution may fulfill part or all of the IRA owner’s required minimum distribution (RMD).

Since many individuals have invested their IRAs in stocks, bonds or other securities, it may be necessary for the IRA custodian to exchange the IRA stock or bond account for a money market fund prior to the distribution. Most IRA custodians require a QCD to be paid from a money market account or similar fund. With equities markets at high levels, some individuals may choose to transfer funds from equities to a money market fund early in the year to prepare for their IRA charitable rollover. Talk with your IRA custodian to determine the next steps to make a QCD.

There are some limits for the IRA charitable rollover. The IRA owner must be at least age 70½ and the maximum transfer in 2025 is $108,000. The transfer must be to a qualified exempt charity and may be for a designated purpose or a field of interest fund. Transfers to donor advised funds or supporting organizations are not permitted. In addition, transfers may not be for a charity dinner or other event that involves a partial benefit to the donor. The entire QCD must be for a qualified charitable purpose.

2. Gifts of Cash — In 2025, individuals who itemize deductions may deduct charitable gifts of cash up to 60% of their contribution base, which is usually their adjusted gross income (AGI). While the 60% limit is substantial, some generous individuals give more and may carry forward the excess gift amounts and deduct them over the following five years. Some donors “bunch” their charitable gifts, meaning they itemize one year with the larger gifts and take the standard deduction the next year.

3. Gifts of Stock or Land — With substantial increases in value for both equities and real property, many donors find that a gift of appreciated property is attractive. A gift of appreciated stock or land provides two benefits for the donor. First, the donor may receive a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the stock or land. Second, because the charity is tax-exempt, the donor can bypass tax on the capital gain. If a donor purchased stock eight years ago for $10 per share and it is now worth $50 per share, the donor would pay capital gains tax on $40 if he or she sold the stock. However, by giving the stock to charity, the donor may receive a charitable income tax deduction for the $50 in value and bypass the tax on the $40 of potential gain. Since the donor is receiving both the deduction and capital gain bypass benefits, this type of gift is permitted up to 30% of the donor’s AGI. Once again, if the gift value is over this limit, it may be carried forward for five years. For example, Mary has adjusted gross income of $100,000 this year and makes a gift of appreciated stock with fair market value of $40,000. She can deduct $30,000 this year and carry forward the remaining $10,000 charitable income tax deduction to the next year.

Editor’s Note: The first month of a year is a good time to make plans. In January, donors may wish to consider their options for charitable gifts in 2025.

Modern estate plans should include an “ePlan” to manage online accounts and online data. There are four specific steps to creating an effective ePlan. These include compiling a list of each account along with an explanation of how each is used; developing a plan for storing electronic information; naming an executor to manage the accounts; and providing appropriate direction to your executor.

1. Compile a List of Accounts and How to Access Them

The first part of an effective ePlan is to gather information and to compile a list of your accounts together with information about the accounts. Your list should specify the username, password account number and a description of what is included in each account. Because passwords frequently change, you should be sure to keep this list up to date.

There are four major types of online accounts: personal, financial, business and social media. Examples of personal accounts include email accounts and those used in conjunction with photos, videos, music and apps for smartphones or tablets. The information associated with these accounts is typically backed up on a computer hard drive, a backup drive or cloud account.

Financial accounts might include savings and checking accounts, retirement accounts, utility accounts, and accounts related to travel and shopping. Increasingly, people are using electronic devices to bank online, including linking accounts for automatic payments, to manage retirement and investment accounts, and to shop online at sites such as Amazon, eBay, airlines and other companies. Online financial accounts also allow for the management of digital currency such as Bitcoin. In many cases, the estate executor will need the account holder’s username, password and account number to identify and access any online financial accounts and to ensure that they can be left to family.

Business related accounts could include intellectual property that is part of a website or blog, including written work, photos, videos and musical compositions and software. If you own business assets like these, be sure to discuss these specific assets with your attorney.

Examples of social media accounts are Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. These accounts may be valuable because they contain photos and comments that should be passed on to family. A good ePlan will instruct the executor how to dispose of these assets, such as whether the executor should copy the data from these accounts to share with family and whether to wind down and close these accounts. Social media companies have specific procedures for closing accounts of decedents.

2. Store and Protect Your Information

The second part of an effective ePlan is the development of a plan for storing information. This will involve saving the list that you compiled as well as backing up important data files and account information.

Because an ePlan account list contains sensitive information such as usernames and passwords, it is essential to maintain the security and confidentiality of this list. There are three basic options for securing an ePlan account list. First, this list could be handwritten and stored in a safe place. Second, it could be in electronic format such as a spreadsheet saved to a thumb drive. Extra security measures can be taken to password protect or encrypt the file or drive. Third, there are programs that manage, save and encrypt passwords. These programs allow people to connect multiple devices to a password management program and the program will keep the passwords up to date on each device. If you password protect a file, encrypt a drive or use a password management program, be sure to provide your executor or a loved one with the file password or encryption key or with access to one of your devices so your executor can access the password program.

For purposes of security, and in order to keep the list up to date, maintain a single list. Avoid saving the list on a computer in case of data loss or a data breach. Do not include this list in a will or living trust; these documents may become public. Save the list in a secure location such as in a locked, fireproof home safe or safety deposit box. Some states require that a safety deposit box cannot be opened after the owner passes away without the approval of the probate court. Ask your attorney if you live in one of these states. If you do, consider storing your list in a home safe.

There are several options for maintaining a backup of important electronic information such as pictures, videos, music and archived email. You can back up this information on your personal computer, in a cloud account or on an external backup drive, thumb drive or DVD, which can then be stored in a home safe or safety deposit box.

3. Select Your Digital Executor

After compiling a list and selecting a storage method, the third part of an ePlan will be the selection of a digital executor. Many states have passed laws that give access to online accounts to the executor of an estate. In some cases, however, state law may limit access if the executor does not have the password or an estate plan does not clearly grant powers to the executor to access these accounts. Accordingly, your estate plan should be explicit in the granting of authority with respect to online accounts, and the ePlan should provide the necessary passwords to the executor. Institutions that provide online account access may give the executor access upon a showing of appropriate authorization in the estate plan or, in some cases, may require an order from the probate court. For some accounts such as Bitcoin, the executor will need the password to access the account.

4. Provide Your Executor with "Digital Directions"

The fourth and final part of an ePlan includes a letter of instruction to the digital executor. This letter will tell the executor how to manage your online accounts and digital assets. It may also provide recommendations for the distribution of various accounts, assets, files and information to family. Information in personal accounts, such as photos and videos, can easily be duplicated. Accordingly, the letter may instruct the executor to produce copies of those files to share broadly with family. Assets in any financial accounts will be transferred to your chosen heirs according to your will, trust or beneficiary designation form, after which the financial institutions will close your accounts. A letter can also tell the executor how to manage social media accounts. Options for dealing with social media accounts include transferring account management to a loved one so that the account can remain active and serve as a memorial to the original account holder, or the account can simply be closed down.

Account Specific Information

Google, Facebook, Twitter, Apple and other companies have adopted policies to address the situation when an account holder has passed away. These policies may allow an account holder to designate a “Legacy Contact” to manage the account; require specific documentation before a deceased person’s account can be closed, such as a copy of a death certificate, court order, notarized letter or obituary; or automatically close an account after an extended period of inactivity, such as three to twelve months. These policies are subject to change, so a digital executor should familiarize themselves with the policies of each account provider and may need to act quickly to preserve important and sentimental information for family and loved ones.

Protect Your Digital Assets

Digital estate planning is a new and rapidly changing field. By incorporating an ePlan into your estate plan, you can ensure that your executor will take the right steps to preserve and protect these accounts and that valuable and sentimental data can be passed on to family and loved ones.

There are several food assistance programs that can help low-income individuals with their grocery costs. However, what is available to your parent will depend on their income level. Here is what you should know.

SNAP Benefits

The largest hunger safety net program in the U.S. is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. Your state may use a different name for their version of SNAP. While there are millions of people who are eligible for SNAP, only approximately 40% or 4.8 million take advantage of this benefit.

For older adults to qualify for SNAP, their net income must be under 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Households that have at least one person aged 60 and older, or who are disabled, must have a net monthly income less than $1,255 per month for an individual or $1,704 for a family of two. These amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii. Households receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are also eligible.

Net income is calculated by subtracting allowable deductions from gross income. Allowable deductions include a standard monthly deduction, out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed $35 per month, rent or mortgage payments, utility costs, taxes and other eligible expenses.

In addition to the net income requirement, some states also require that a senior’s assets be below $4,500, excluding home, personal property and retirement savings. In some instances, vehicles are also excluded although the rules vary by state. Most states, however, have much higher asset limits or they do not count assets at all when determining eligibility.

To apply for SNAP benefits, complete a state application form, which can be done by mail, by phone, or online, depending on your parent’s state of residence.

If eligible, your parent’s benefits will be provided on a plastic Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that is used like a debit card and accepted at most grocery stores. The average SNAP benefit for 60-and-older households is around $105 per month.

To learn more or apply, contact your local SNAP office by visiting fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory or calling 800-221-5689.

Other Programs

In addition to SNAP, there are other food assistance programs that can help lower-income individuals like the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP).

The CSFP is a program that provides supplemental food packages to those with income limits at or below the 150% poverty line. The SFMNP offers coupons that can be exchanged for fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs in select locations throughout the U.S. To be eligible, your parent’s income must be below the 185% poverty level. To learn more about these programs and find out if they are available in your parent’s area, visit fns.usda.gov/programs.

There are also many Feeding America member food banks that host grocery programs that provide free food boxes to older adults. Contact your local food bank to find out if a program is available nearby.

In addition to food assistance programs, there are also various financial assistance programs that may help your parent pay for medications, health care, utilities and more. To locate these programs, and learn how to apply for them, go to BenefitsCheckUp.org.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.

Because a will is a public document, her will is available on the internet. In the will she remembered family members and several friends and planned to make a substantial transfer to a charitable lead trust. However, because her two children received the family personal property and promptly sold the items for the unexpectedly large sum of $35,000,000, the residue of the estate was used to pay the estate taxes on this large transfer of value to children and the charitable trust was not funded.

Bing Crosby passed away on October 14, 1977, with a trust. When his first wife Dixie Lee passed away from cancer in 1952, she had a will that transferred her separate and community property. Bing Crosby was very upset that his financial circumstances were disclosed to the public through the probate process. After marrying his second wife Kathryn, Crosby created several trusts for the children from his first marriage, for Kathryn and for children from his second marriage. He greatly appreciated the privacy benefit of creating a living trust.

You may not have the fame of Jacqueline Onassis or the assets of Bing Crosby (along with Lawrence Welk and Bob Hope, he was one of the wealthiest actors at the time of his death), but you can learn from both of them in deciding whether or not to create a will or a living trust.

When Wills are a Good Choice

There are a number of reasons why a person frequently starts the estate planning process with a will. These include youth, cost, the estate size, the ability to transfer assets outside of probate and a hesitation to select a trustee.

Young and Healthy

If you are in your 30s or 40s and have good health, a will is a common starting point for estate planning. A will is much simpler than a living trust. The property subject to a will goes through probate, but that could be many decades in the future.

As you acquire other property, it can be covered by your will. You can modify your will at any time, and you save the effort necessary to retitle and track property inside a living trust.

For a young person, the cost savings are significant. Wills frequently cost from $400 to $800, while a living trust may involve costs of $1,000 to $3,500. A young person may be reluctant to spend the funds necessary to create a living trust, but can start his or her estate plan quite reasonably with a will.

Modest or Moderate Estate

A second characteristic of people who choose a will is that they have a modest or moderate estate. As the estate becomes larger and more complicated, a trust is more important. For individuals who have more moderate assets, the will is a good starting point. As the estate grows, they can use some of the increase in resources to add a living trust to their plan.

Using Transfer Methods that Avoid Probate

Another option is to create a will, but transfer most assets without probate. Your IRA, qualified pension plan, life insurance and property held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship all avoid the probate process. For individuals who have a modest or moderate estate and are willing to transfer most assets through contract or property law methods that avoid probate, a will is a good solution.

Do Not Want to Select a Trustee

With a living trust, it is necessary to select a trustee to manage your property. This trustee frequently will end up managing your assets during the senior years of your life and after you pass away.

Some people do not like the concept of a trustee managing their property. They would rather own the property themselves outright during life and transfer the property outright to family members. For this person, a will is often a preferred planning method.

When a Living Trust is a Good Choice

For those individuals who can afford a living trust, it is a good choice. The living trust facilitates management of property during life, protection of the grantor, transfer of assets and income to family members and management of real estate.

Senior Care

What if I become too ill to manage property? One of the concerns you may have is that you may eventually become a senior person with a major illness. For medical reasons, you may be unable to manage your property. A major benefit of a living trust is that you select a successor trustee. If you are no longer able to serve as trustee and manage the property, your successor trustee can manage your property. He or she can make certain that the expenses of your medical care or long-term care needs are covered through trust payments.

Larger Estate or Real Estate

If you have a more substantial estate, a living trust can have multiple benefits. The living trust may include various provisions for handling the management of real estate or personal business interests. Particularly if you have real estate in multiple states, it is advantageous to transfer that property to a living trust. This property can then be managed for the benefit of both you and your heirs.

If you have property in multiple states and pass away with a will, it is necessary to conduct a probate administration in each state where you own property. This entails hiring professionals to manage the probate in each state and considerably increases the total cost. With a living trust holding real estate in different states, there is no need for multiple and expensive probate proceedings.

Bypassing Probate

One of the major benefits of a living trust is that the trust assets bypass the probate process. In most states, this may mean savings in probate costs up to many thousands of dollars.

Not only are there savings in probate costs, but your estate may also avoid the delays that frequently occur in the probate process. If there are claims against the estate, the probate process can take from two to ten years. While some large estates have been tied up in probate for many years, other similarly sized estates with a living trust can continue to manage the property and pay income and principal to beneficiaries.

Privacy

As Bing Crosby discovered, a living trust is generally a private document. While wills are public documents (the wills of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and many other famous individuals are readily available through internet search sites), a living trust is a private document. Even if a financial institution requests the trust in order to invest property owned by the trust, generally only a small portion of the trust is required to be disclosed to the institution. For most purposes the living trust is private.

Reduced Risk of Estate Contest

Larger estates are understandably more vulnerable to a probate contest. When the document and a large estate are public, as is the case with the will, the target is very tempting. Distant relatives come out of the woodwork to determine whether they have a potential claim against the estate.

One of the most disheartening aspects of a will contest is that there frequently are lifelong hard feelings among family members. In many cases, the bitterness from a will contest is carried by children, grandchildren, cousins, nephews and nieces to their graves.

A living trust is a private document. Because it is a private document and does not have to meet the specific standards for signature and witnesses that are applicable to a will, it is less likely to be attacked.

With a large estate, the living trust is generally safer. In addition, if a senior person needs someone to manage the estate, the successor trustee has been previously designated. The successor trustee frequently protects the senior person from potential undue influence of heirs or caregivers. Therefore, the living trust reduces the probability of an estate contest.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers that the 2025 filing season is rapidly approaching. The IRS is attempting to provide improved taxpayer services. One of the primary ways for taxpayers to benefit is to sign up for an IRS Online Account.

There is an IRS Get Ready page on IRS.gov. It has many practical tips and resources for taxpayers.

1. IRS Online Account — You may create an Online Account and enjoy multiple benefits. With the Online Account, you can review your most recent tax return and adjusted gross income. You can obtain an Identity Protection PIN or sign a power of attorney for your tax preparer. The Online Account allows you to select your language preference and to receive up to 200 various IRS electronic notices. You can review and cancel payments and set up a payment plan.
2. Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) — An IP PIN is a six–digit number that protects you from having your identity stolen and prevents the filing of a federal tax return. This increases your personal and financial information safety. A new feature is that the IRS will accept a return with an already claimed dependent if you have a valid IP PIN. This will allow the IRS to accelerate the issuance of your tax refund.
3. Quarterly Estimated Payments — Some taxpayers have non-wage income and must make estimated payments. There is a Tax Withholding Estimator on IRS.gov that may help you calculate the amount of your estimated payment. The last quarterly estimated payment for 2024 is due on January 15, 2025.
4. 1099-K Reporting — If you received over $5,000 in payments for goods or services through an online marketplace, you can anticipate receiving IRS Form 1099-K in January 2025. While income from part-time work, side jobs or sale of goods and services is taxable, taxpayers who exceed the $5,000 limit may receive Form 1099-K. The IRS reminds taxpayers that they are taxable on all income even if they did not receive this form.
5. Digital Asset Taxes — Many taxpayers own or trade Bitcoin or other digital assets. The income from virtual currencies, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins or non–fungible tokens (NFTs) must be reported. Taxpayers should keep records about the purchase, sale or exchange of digital assets. The 2024 federal tax return will ask taxpayers to answer “Yes” or “No” whether they have received a payment for services, sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of a digital asset. If the taxpayer checks the "Yes" box, he or she must report all income related to the digital transaction.

The IRS often takes less than 21 days after it receives your tax return to issue a refund. An exception exists for returns that claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). Returns claiming the EITC or ACTC are blocked from refunds until the middle of February.

You should gather your tax information and have a good record-keeping system. Your records generally are collected by the end of January. They could include Forms W-2, Forms 1099, Form 1099-K from third-party payment vendors, Form 1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation, Form 1099-MISC for miscellaneous income and Form 1099-INT for interest income.

Filing electronically and selecting direct deposit is both fast and safe. An estimated 70% of taxpayers will be qualified to use the complementary filing system that is called IRS Free File. All taxpayers can use the IRS Free File Fillable Forms. The IRS has added another 12 states where taxpayers with fairly simple tax returns can use the Direct File program. Older adults and military members also may benefit from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs.

I have heard that people with heart problems need to be extra cautious during the winter because heart attacks are much more common during that time. What can you tell me about this?

Winter is not only cold and flu season, but also the peak time for heart attacks. Individuals with pre-existing heart conditions or those with a history of heart attacks are particularly susceptible. Here is what you should know along with some tips to help you protect yourself.

In the U.S., the risk of experiencing a heart attack during the winter months is double than what it is during the summertime. The increase is influenced by a number of factors, and they are not all linked to cold weather. Even people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Here are the areas you need to pay extra attention to this winter.

Cold temperatures: When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to help the body maintain heat. This causes blood pressure to rise and makes the heart work harder. Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase the risk for blood clots. To stay warm this winter, bundle up in layers, including gloves and a hat, and use a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air before you breathe in.

Snow shoveling: Studies have shown that heart attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days after a major snowstorm, usually as a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with cold temperatures and the risks for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, hire a professional or someone from the neighborhood to do it for you. Snow blowers are also a great alternative. However, if you must shovel, push rather than lift the snow as much as possible, stay warm and take frequent breaks.

New Year’s resolutions: Every January 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part of their New Year’s resolution to get in shape, and many overexert themselves too soon. If you are starting a new exercise program this winter, take the time to talk to your doctor about what types and how much exercise may be appropriate for you.

Winter weight gain: During the holiday season and winter months, it is common to indulge in food and drinks, which can put extra strain on the heart, especially for someone with a heart condition. Keep a watchful eye on your diet this winter and moderate any intake of high-fat foods and alcohol.

Shorter days: Less daylight in the winter months can cause many people to develop “seasonal affective disorder” (SAD), a wintertime depression that can stress the heart. Studies have also looked at heart attack patients and found they usually have lower levels of vitamin D (which comes from sunlight) than people with healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, talk to your healthcare practitioner to see if taking a supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day is right for you.

Flu season: Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heart attack risk. It is known that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting which can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people. Talk to your healthcare provider about getting a flu shot, a COVID-19 booster or vaccines for RSV and pneumococcal pneumonia to help protect your health this winter.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior” book. Any links in this article are offered as a service and there is no endorsement of any product. These articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization’s official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Living, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.