Did you know that you are at risk of a heart attack on Christmas Eve? That is especially if you are older and not in good health. According to the British Medical Journal, researchers found that there is a 37 percent increase in the risk of heart disease on Christmas Eve as the peak is around 10 pm. The same goes for New Year’s Day. How could that be since this is the most joyous time of the year? There are several reasons for this assessment showing signs that there is an increased risk of a heart attack during this festive time.
Why Is There An Increased Risk Of A Heart Attack On Christmas Eve?
Christmas and the holidays are a joyous time, but here is the thing: There is a lot of stress that comes with the holidays as well. The stress happens because of cooking, shopping, and for those who are hosting Christmas dinners, there is the pressure when it comes to keeping guests happy. The stress that you experience can cause high blood pressure and can also set off a fight or flight response and that is stressful on the heart.
Additionally, the holiday season is a time of unhealthy eating. You are going to be consuming foods with a lot of fat and sugar, and you will likely be going to holiday parties whether they are work functions or parties that your friends may host before the holidays. Therefore, when you indulge in foods that are high in cholesterol, trans fats, sodium, and sugar, that strains your heart and that will raise your blood pressure too.
Also, if you are already overweight, or worse, obese, that puts strain on you too. That is a risk factor for heart attacks and the extra stress that you endure during the holidays will certainly cause you to have higher blood pressure and that can lead to a heart attack.
Here is the other issue. The holidays are a busy time, and it is very easy to forget to take care of yourself. That is also a time that you may forget to refill your medicine and that will lead to poor health. As you can see, these risk factors are the reason that the chances of a heart attack are higher during the holidays more than at any other time of the year.
Sure, that also depends on any personal stress you are dealing with as well, but generally speaking, the holidays are extremely stressful. And if you fear you are having a heart attack, you cannot ignore the signs.
What Are The Signs Of A Heart Attack
The signs vary between men and women. In men, the signs of a heart attack are pains in the chest, either the right or left arm, or the shoulders, feeling weak and lightheaded, nausea, and shortness of breath. In women, the signs of a heart attack are having uncomfortable pressure in the chest that may feel like there is a squeezing or fullness sensation. There is also pain in either arm, or both arms, the neck, the stomach, or jaw, as well as shortness of breath. There may also be breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, as well as dizziness.
If you suspect you are having a heart attack, do not wait and you will need to go right to the hospital. The best place for you to get through a heart attack is while you are under medical care. If you have no history of heart disease before the heart attack, then you have had it all along and that means you have been asymptomatic. That is why you will also want to get a checkup before the holidays to ensure that you are not at serious risk, and if you are, you will want to perhaps make some changes that will help reduce the risk of a heart attack.
