Dangerous Christmas Why it comes on the holidays to especially many heart attacks

Study reveals increased risk for heart attacks at Christmas

Christmas is the Celebration of Love. As beautiful as the holidays are, for many people they are also associated with emotional stress, a lot of rich food and high alcohol consumption. A Swedish research team analyzed heart attacks from 15 years and found that most heart attacks take place at Christmas. According to the researchers, the risk of a heart attack at Christmas by 37 percent increase.

Swedish researchers from Lund University examined 283,000 heart attacks that took place from 1998 to 2013 in Sweden. According to the study team, there are an average of 50 heart attacks per day in Sweden. At Christmas, however, this number increases to 69 cases. That's an increase of 37 percent. The study results have recently been published in the journal "The BMJ".

At Christmas, many people are more receptive to emotions. It is often extensively feasted and drunk alcohol. This combination could be the reason why the risk of heart attacks increases at Christmas. (Image: Floydine / fotolia.com)

Increased heart attack risk on holidays

As the researchers report, the risk of a heart attack is highest on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here the danger rises by an average of 37 percent. But also on Boxing Day, the team saw a rise of 22 percent. It also showed that on New Year's Day there is a 20% increased risk.

Eating, drinking and emotional stress

"The key findings of our study were that traditional holidays are associated with an increased risk of heart attack," Dr. David Erlinge from the University of Lund opposite the English newspaper The Telegraph. The cardiologist considers the way we are celebrating this celebration to be the cause of the increased number of heart attacks.

Be careful on Christmas Eve

According to Erlinge show on Christmas Eve a contrary trend compared to the rest of the year. Normally, the risk of having a heart attack is highest in the morning. On Christmas Eve, this trend is exactly the opposite. Here most infarcts take place in the evening. The cardiologist sees the hearty food and the generally increased stress during the day as a cause.

Christmas is also the festival of emotions

Dr. Erlinge also points out that many people are more emotional at Christmas. This can quickly cause anger, grief, anxiety and stress. To this emotional burden would then be added to an excessive food intake and alcohol.

Heart patients should calmly approach Christmas

"People need to be aware of the increased cardiovascular risk," says the expert. He advises to take good care of sick friends and relatives during this time. Furthermore, elderly and cardiac patients should avoid unnecessary stress as well as overeating and drinking. (Vb)