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4d ago

Doctors Warn of Holiday Heart Risks as Christmas Tops U.S. Heart-Attack Deaths

Experts urge medication adherence, rapid response to symptoms and CPR training to blunt a preventable seasonal surge.

A cardiologist has warned that holiday season increases the risk of heart attacks.
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Holiday heart syndrome is used to describe a group of heart problems that tend to occur during the winter holidays.
In addition to a sudden drop in temperature during winter, which can often reduce body temperature, this can lead to a sudden spike in blood pressure and a heart attack.

Overview

  • American Heart Association data show December 25 is the deadliest day for heart-attack deaths, with December 26 and New Year’s Day also elevated.
  • Clinicians describe “holiday heart syndrome” as a cluster of issues—atrial fibrillation, heart failure and heart attacks—often triggered by alcohol, which can precipitate short-term AFib.
  • Cold exposure raises risk through vasoconstriction and blood-pressure spikes, and a 2024 Swedish analysis linked two straight cold days to higher heart-attack rates 2–6 days later.
  • Prevention guidance emphasizes taking prescribed medications, not delaying care for chest pressure or breathlessness, learning hands-only CPR, moderating alcohol and keeping active and well-rested.
  • Doctors note compounding risks from winter smog, which can inflame blood vessels and increase clotting, and report more younger adults in their 30s and 40s presenting with palpitations and BP surges.