Overview
- Cardiologists and the Deutsche Herzstiftung report more delayed emergency calls around Christmas and New Year, worsening outcomes because time-critical treatment saves heart muscle.
- Emergency dispatch centers, emergency rooms and heart clinics operate around the clock during the holidays, so hesitation to dial 112 is unfounded.
- Diabetes-related cardiac autonomic neuropathy can blunt chest pain, making subtle signs such as weakness, nausea, palpitations, heavy sweating or abrupt exhaustion especially important to recognize.
- Heart attack pain can radiate to the neck, throat or jaw and may present as toothache in some cases, a pattern noted particularly in women.
- Stress, heavy meals, disrupted sleep and alcohol can raise seasonal risk and trigger arrhythmias known as the “holiday heart” phenomenon, and at‑risk people are advised to keep regular checks of blood pressure, glucose and lipid levels.