Congratulations — you've survived the perils of Thanksgiving. But watch out: You still face the heart risks of such end-of-year celebrations as Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's.
More people have heart attacks in December and January than at any other time of the year, probably due to the excessive stress, alcohol, and eating — all hallmarks of this season.
Although the holidays and New Year's are traditionally happy times, they are accompanied by high levels of stress: How about all those holiday cards that still need to be addressed? What present should I get for my brother?
With the increases in gas and heating oil prices, can we afford to give presents at all? Who should we invite to the annual feast? Why are my spirits so low when everyone else seems so happy? You can surely add your own personal stressors; the list is definitely endless.
What else can raise your risk of a heart attack around this time of the year?
Many people have symptoms of depression around holidays, and depression increases the risk of heart attacks. And while moderate alcohol intake appears to protect the heart, repeated overindulgence poses a direct and immediate threat to the heart (not to mention the indirect risks of running into a tree or another car on your way home from a party).
All those irresistible high-fat and salty foods not only raise the long-term dangers of obesity and higher blood pressures but can also increase the immediate likelihood of a heart attack.
And here's one of the biggest risks of all: With all the eating to excess around holiday time, it's sometimes tempting to attribute an episode of chest discomfort to indigestion. But delaying that trip to the hospital can be fatal.
If you experience any heart-attack symptoms — like chest pain, difficulty breathing, anxiety, perfuse sweating, and nausea — don't hesitate to interrupt your holiday festivities with a trip to the hospital.
Remember, too, that women often have little or no chest pain with a heart attack. Instead, they tend to experience unusual fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and shortness of breath that may precede the heart attack by as long as a month.
Out-of-towners can be especially reluctant to go to an unfamiliar hospital or doctor. But who cares if your surroundings seem a bit foreign, if your visit to the hospital ends up saving your life?
One more warning for the winter months: Be careful about shoveling snow in the cold. This form of exercise is responsible for far too many heart attack deaths.
A bit of good news in all of this comes from a recent study which found that being physically fit decreased deaths from all causes in men and women over the age of 60, even if they were overweight or obese. This means that you can at least partly compensate for any extra pounds gained over the holidays by regular exercise to maintain fitness.
To sum up these heart-healthy tips for the holidays:
- Eat and drink moderately
- Don't let minor things, like unsent holiday cards and menu planning, stress you out
- Continue to exercise during the holidays
- If you find yourself depressed, tell somebody and get help
- Don't overdo the snow shoveling
- Don't ignore symptoms that may indicate a heart attack — hospital personnel expect some false alarms and always prefer them to mortalities
