The holiday season brings an uptick in heart attacks, a result of added stress, food, alcohol, and even cooler weather, according to experts.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, a 2004 study in the American Heart Association’s (AMA) publication, Circulation, found that more people succumb to fatal heart attacks during the last week of December compared to any other week of the year. Sadly, December 25 itself is reportedly the most fatal day out of the most fatal week.
A combination of factors drives the heightened cardiovascular incidents during the holidays. Even in milder climates, the end of December tends to be one of the colder times of the year. Dr. Patricia Vassallo, a Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine cardiology professor, says cold weather can prompt your blood vessels to constrict, Yahoo! Life reported. This raises blood pressure, and places added strain on your heart.
Another factor contributing to more cardiovascular events in and around Christmas is the abundance of food and alcohol. For those who may already possess damage from heart disease, excessive indulgence in holiday feasts and cocktails can pose a risk.
Dr. Matthew Tomey, chair of the AHA’s cardiovascular intervention science committee and a cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, told Yahoo! Life that these “indiscretions” can trigger cardiovascular incidents, like a heart attack.
While the holidays are meant to be a time of celebration, joy, and, for many, a time off work, stress is still a major issue. It can be a period of high-pressure social engagements, hosting in-laws for days, and financial worries over gift purchases. It is also a time of year that can remind people of lost loved ones.
Exercise is one way to prepare for the holidays. Physical activity can materially extend one’s lifespan, according to a recently published study. Even just four minutes of high-intensity activity each day can cut the chances of a heart attack, especially in women.
The type of food you choose this season can also impact your heart health. Earlier this year, The Dallas Express detailed a study that found ultra-processed foods, like some of the treats you might come across this holiday, can lead to adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease-related mortality and heart disease-related mortality.