“The holiday season is known to be a little (or a lot) extra. You may find that you drink more cocktails, eat more sweets or skip your daily walk.
While it’s of course OK to indulge in the treats of the season, doctors also warn that you should be mindful: The rich meals, increased alcohol consumption, heightened stress and disrupted routines of the holiday season are known to be hard on the heart, as proven by the increase in heart attacks this time of year.
“Holiday heart syndrome refers to a cardiac rhythm disturbance, an arrhythmia,” said Dr. Ahmed Tawakol, the co-director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. It causes an irregular heart rhythm (also known as atrial fibrillation) sometimes in otherwise healthy people after excessive or binge drinking.
“What’s interesting is that we see a surge in heart attacks around stressful periods,” Tawakol said. People are more likely to have heart attacks around earthquakes, sporting events, after elections and “we also see an increase in heart attacks around the holidays,” he noted.
“Chronic stress can increase blood pressure, elevate heart rate and raise cortisol levels, all of which contribute to heart disease over time,” Shetty said.
“Cold weather itself can be a factor in the winter months. If not well protected, the cold can cause … narrowing of the blood vessels, causing one’s heart rate and blood pressure to rise,” Shetty said. “This puts extra strain on the heart, which may not be tolerated by those with heart conditions such as angina or heart failure.”
Shoveling heavy snow can also cause heart problems in susceptible people, according to Tawakol.
When it’s cold out, it’s important that you dress warmly to reduce strain on your heart, Spelsberg said.”.
Massachusetts General Hospital (Startling Reasons Why The Holidays Are Bad For Your Heart | Massachusetts General Hospital)