There are probably many different reasons why heart attacks spike over the holidays. It’s a time of year when many of us abandon our healthy habits, drink more heavily, and willingly overindulge in rich foods. At the same time, you may encounter extra stress from traveling, stretching your budget, or spending time with extended family.
Too Much Alcohol
Alcohol is one of the major contributors to holiday heart attack risk. Booze sales spike at the end of the year, and binge drinking is common even among people who otherwise don’t drink heavily, especially on New Year’s Eve.
All this excessive drinking can increase your heart attack risk.
Excessive alcohol intake may contribute to inflammation and dyslipidemia, making coronary artery disease worse.
Repeated episodes of binge drinking may contribute to inflammation, stiffness of the arteries, and increased blood pressure, thereby increasing heart attack risk.
Additionally, it’s possible that drinking may act as a heart attack trigger.
Basically, it’s not a good idea to use the holidays as an excuse to add to alcohol consumption.
“We used to think that a drink or two a day may be heart healthy. That thinking was probably wrong. Newer data appears to support that alcohol intake at any level over time increases your heart risk,” says Robert Ostfeld, MD, director of preventive cardiology at Montefiore Einstein. The American Heart Association says that if you don’t drink, you should not start.
Rich, Salty Food
From cheese and charcuterie boards to salty and buttery side dishes to fudge and other desserts, the holidays are full of treats. It’s a time of feasting, which unfortunately, isn’t the best for your heart.
Of course, you’re already aware that these foods are bad for your long-term health. Dr. Ostfeld says that “eating more processed meats, ‘junk foods,’ and treats, and fewer fruits, vegetables, and whole grains,” sets you up for heart trouble, increasing your risk of heart attack.
But it’s possible that even just one huge meal can trigger a cardiac event, if you’re already at risk.
Heart health emergencies often happen within an hour of a heavy meal, and a single high-fat meal causes cardiovascular health changes within just a few hours, spiking inflammation and destabilizing fatty plaque deposits.
This doesn’t mean you need to totally deprive yourself over the holidays. It just means you also need to exercise self-control and be strategic about what you choose to indulge in.
High Stress and Disrupted Routines
There’s no doubt about it, the holidays can be stressful. You might experience stress from dealing with family drama, or maybe you’re feeling the pressure of having to cook dinner for 15 visiting relatives.
Emotional distress and higher stress levels may contribute to the higher levels of heart attacks that happen during the holidays.
Stress and worry can both act as possible heart attack triggers, particularly for women.
Additionally, the holidays are not exactly a time when things are normal and allow you to follow the habits you may follow the rest of the year.
Consistent healthy habits are a key component of reducing heart attack risk and it makes sense how these healthy habits might fall by the wayside during the holidays. For example, you might not be getting enough sleep or staying on top of daily needs for physical activity.
For another thing, Ostfeld says that “people may forget to bring their prescription medications or sleep apnea devices with them when they travel, potentially increasing their heart risk.”
Seasonal Risks
Another element that increases the possibility of heart troubles is cold weather, which can lead to the arteries narrowing and blood not flowing as well as it would in warmer weather.
When the body is exposed to cold, blood pressure, heart rate, and red blood cell concentration can increase. These can then add to the chances of experiencing a heart attack.
Additionally, outdoor exercise (like shoveling snow) may add to how much work the heart has to do, further adding to risk.
Seasonal illnesses can also play a role in heart health risks. The flu, COVID-19, and RSV are all believed to increase heart attack risk.
Viral infections encourage inflammation and blood clotting in the body, which then makes it harder for the heart to do its job and can encourage plaque formation in the arteries.
