Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year, except when you experience a heart attack. Stress and overindulging in food and drinks during the holidays may lead to a cardiac arrest.
The Holiday's Unhealthy Health Habits May Lead To Heart Attacks
A study published by the American Heart Association shows that there is a spike in two weeks between Christmas and January 7, King 5 reported. It's not just the stress, doctors say. The unhealthy eating habits - like too much alcohol drinking and overeating - can lead to cardiac deaths.
People may say the cold weather is also to blame, but that is not actually the case. The study compared people in New Zealand who celebrate their Christmas in the summer.
Don't Blame The Weather For Cardiac Arrests
People in the Southern Hemisphere experience summer weather from December until February. Researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia found that Kiwis also experience an increase in heart attacks during the holidays during the hotter months of their year.
The researchers analyzed death data in New Zealand from 1988 to 2013 and found that there is a 4 percent increase of cardiac events between December 25 and January 7. In the US, it is estimated that about 5 percent of cardiac deaths happen during the same period, the Huffington Post said. Researchers conclude that regardless of the climate, there really is an increase of cardiac deaths during Christmas and holidays.
Health experts say that the holidays should not be an excuse for not going to the doctor if you are not feeling well. Some people may delay getting help because the holidays are special to them. Doctors say that in order to decrease the possibility of a heart attack, limit alcohol consumption, don't get too stressed out, and seek medical help right away if feel something out of the ordinary.
