Holiday heart attacks rise as doctors share hidden triggers, prevention tips

The holidays are known to be a source of stress between traveling preparing for family gatherings and indulging in lots of food and drinks The uptick of activity can certainly put a strain on the heart a phenomenon known as holiday heart syndrome Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Jeremy London addressed this elevated vulnerability in a newest Instagram post sharing how heart attacks consistently rise around the holidays TREATING GUM SICKNESS COULD REDUCE LIABILITY OF HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES RESEARCH SUGGESTS Every year like clockwork we see a spike in heart attacks around Christmas and New Year s the South Carolina-based surgeon stated In fact Christmas Eve is the highest-risk day of the year This is due to a shift in behavior specifically drinking and eating too much moving less and being stressed out according to London Emotional stress financial stress the increased pace of the holidays increased obligations he listed Cold weather also causes vasoconstriction narrowing of blood vessels according to London which increases the vulnerability of plaque rupture and the expected for heart attack CUTTING OUT ALCOHOL AND MEDICATING SOONER COULD PREVENT 'SILENT KILLER ' EXPERTS SAYDr Glenn Hirsch chief of the division of cardiology at National Jewish Healthcare in New York noted in an interview with Fox News Digital that holiday heart syndrome typically refers to the onset of an abnormal heart rhythm or atrial fibrillation This can happen after an episode of binge-drinking alcohol Hirsch mentioned which can be exacerbated by holiday celebrations It s often a combination of overdoing the alcohol intake along with high salt intake and large meals that can trigger it he commented Adding advance stress and less sleep and it lowers the threshold to go into that rhythm The biggest jeopardy related to atrial fibrillation according to Hirsch is stroke and other complications from blood clots Untreated atrial fibrillation can lead to heart failure after a long period of time WANT BETTER HEART SOUNDNESS START BY TACKLING YOUR WEAKEST LINK CARDIAC SURGEON SAYS The danger of atrial fibrillation increases with age but also underlying cardiovascular syndrome menace factors increase the vulnerability such as high blood pressure obesity diabetes sleep apnea and chronic kidney condition he added Holiday heart syndrome is preventable as Hirsch reminds people that moderation is key when celebrating CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR WELLNESS NEWSLETTERThe expert recommends avoiding binge-drinking overeating especially salty foods and dehydration while managing stress levels and prioritizing adequate sleep Don t forget to exercise he added Even getting in at least to efforts during the holiday can help lower threat while also burning a few of the additional calories we are often consuming around the holidays CLICK HERE FOR MORE ROBUSTNESS STORIESLondon agreed stating in his video that movement is medicine and encouraging people to get out and move every day It's also vital to stay on schedule with any prescribed medications London emphasized He encourages setting reminder alerts even during the holiday break Prioritize sleep and mindfulness he added Take care of yourself during this stressful time London also warned that various people delay having certain wellness concerns checked out until after the holidays further worsening these conditions TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ Don t ignore your manifestations he advised If you don t feel right respond