(NEXSTAR) – For many people the holidays are a time to unwind with friends and family, but overdoing it can come with potential health risk that’s referred to as “holiday heart syndrome.”
“Holiday heart is the development oftentimes of either cardiac rhythm disturbances or heart failure around the holidays,” Dr. Luke Laffin, a preventive cardiologist for Cleveland Clinic, stated in a news release.
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more people die between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 than any other time of year.
“The holidays are a busy, often stressful, time for most of us,” Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones Routines are disrupted; we may tend to eat and drink more and exercise and relax less,” Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones and professor Eileen M. Foell said in an AHA statement. “We also may not be listening to our bodies or paying attention to warning signs, thinking it can wait until after the new year.”
Signs of holiday heart can include palpitations, fatigue and shortness of breath, according to Laffin, and those who already have high blood pressure or diabetes are most at risk.
With holiday parties, dinners and get-togethers, celebration can lead to overindulging in food and alcohol, which make the heart work harder.
Laffin recommends keeping salty foods and alcohol to a minimum, and filling up on heart-healthy things.
“Make sure you are consuming enough fruits and vegetables,” Laffin said. “You also want to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. If all we’re having is eggnog and Champagne, that’s a problem.”
Symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain could be signs of a medical emergency, and Laffin recommends seeking help immediately.
