It’s not what anyone wishes to hear as we approach the end of the year, but research has found that there’s an uptick in heart-related deaths during the Christmas and New Years holidays. People die the most from heart attacks in the last week of December compared to any other time of year, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Cardiologists say holidays can alter people’s routines, and changes in sleep, exercise, and diet can put people at risk for heart-related problems.
With the rise in holiday travel, people may forget to take their medications, push their health appointments to the New Year, or ignore symptoms that may be associated with heart attacks like chest pain, shortness of breath, or nausea, says Dr. Stephanie Coulter, a cardiologist and assistant medical director at The Texas Heart Institute.
