The holidays are a time for celebration and revelry, but doctors say they also double as an important reminder to check up on your heart health. That’s because, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), you’re more likely to die from a heart attack during the final week of December than at any other time of the year.
In fact, according to a study published in the journal Circulation, Christmas Day is the single most deadly date on the calendar for heart health, with December 26 and January 1 following closely behind.
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“In a British Medical Journal study reviewing more than 16 years of data on heart attacks among people in Sweden, there was a 15 percent overall increase in heart attacks during the winter holidays. Of particular note, heart attacks increased 37 percent on December 24 (Christmas Eve), peaking at 10 p.m. and more often in people over 75 and those with diabetes or previous cardiovascular disease,” the AHA writes.
Cardiologist Jeremy London, MD, recently took to TikTok to explain the phenomenon. “After 25 years as a heart surgeon, there is one thing that I can count on around the holidays: It’s more heart attacks,” he said in a recent post.
London explains that many factors likely contribute to the sudden spike in cardiac cases, including “cold weather causing vasoconstriction and increasing the workload of the heart,” as well as increased emotional stress from things like family, travel, finances, and heightened feelings of loneliness.
“You may simply delay seeking medical treatment because you’re traveling or you don’t want to mess up everyone’s holiday,” he adds.
Johanna Contreras, MD, a clinical volunteer for the AHA and a cardiologist at Mt. Sinai Hospital System in New York City, agrees that winter weather and stress can both contribute to acute cardiac conditions and adds that our lifestyle changes surrounding the holidays don’t help matters. Overindulging in alcohol and rich foods could also play a role, she says.
"No one wants to think of tragedy during this joyous time of year as we gather with family and friends. However, these startling facts are very sobering,” Contreras adds via the AHA Newsroom.
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Columbia University Irving Medical Center says there are several ways to bring your risk levels back down during the holiday season. They recommend taking any new symptoms seriously, trying low-salt recipes, limiting alcohol, “triple-checking your meds,” using a blood pressure monitor, and taking measures to reduce your risk of blood clots while traveling.
The AHA says it’s also a good idea to learn the signs of a heart attack should a cardiac episode occur. Discomfort in the chest, arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach are among the most common symptoms. You may also experience shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, or lightheadedness.
“While you may not want to spend the holidays in a doctor’s office or hospital, getting checked out and receiving prompt treatment if there is a problem is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones for all the celebrations to come,” says Contreras.
