Heart attacks more likely on holidays, including Christmas
Studies have shown that individuals are slightly more likely to have a heart attack around Christmas, but according to a cardiologist at Butler Memorial Hospital, people can take action to negate some of the risk.
Dr. Joseph Kusick, interventional cardiologist at Independence Health System, said he tells patients who are at higher risk of having a heart attack to focus on modifiable risk factors, which are actions they can take to lower blood pressure and avoid negative heart effects.
He said aspects of the winter holidays may contribute to higher risks, including higher stress levels and more food or alcohol intake, but people can take steps to balance out risks.
“You try to identify the modifiable risk factors and change them,” Kusick said. “Diabetes is a big one, controlling blood pressure, sometimes people are reluctant to adjust medications, but over time we need to work on these things.”
Further, he said reducing sodium intake reduces blood pressure. Using less salt can lower a person’s blood pressure, he said.
Kusick has worked at Butler Memorial Hospital since 2017, and said in that time he hasn’t tracked fluctuations in heart attack patients in December. But on Wednesday, Dec. 20, he referenced a study that showed higher risk ratios for heart attacks on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
Kusick said that while the data didn’t point to specific causes for heart attacks, doctors can infer some information based on the dates that saw more incidents.
“The article was an observational study, and we can’t put blame on anything specific, but we can speculate,” Kusick said. “You see these spikes over a day or two — Christmas Eve, Christmas — and the spike they are referring to, they give you risk ratios.”
A British Medical Journal study, shared recently by the American Heart Association, reviewed more than 16 years of data on heart attacks among people in Sweden and found a 15% overall increase in heart attacks during the Christmas season.
The study indicates attacks increased by 37% on Christmas Eve and happened most often in those above age 75 or those with diabetes or previous cardiovascular disease.
“No one wants to think of tragedy during this joyous time of year as we gather with family and friends. However, these startling facts are very sobering. We don’t know exactly what triggers this increase in heart attacks during the holidays, it’s likely a combination of factors,” Johanna Contreras, clinical volunteer for the American Heart Association and a cardiologist at Mt. Sinai Hospital System in New York City said in a December news release.
Contreras continued to say that winter weather is known to increase the risk of heart attacks, citing “restricted blood flow when arteries may be constricted in cold temperatures.”
According to Kusick, individuals who have a family history of cardiac issues should be especially aware of risk factors for heart attacks. He said that because anyone can experience a heart attack, people should make sure to meet with their primary care doctor to be alert of any potential cardiac issues.
“It starts out with your primary physician,” Kusick said. “You should still see a primary doctor once a year ... Outside of that, if symptoms start, communicate with your primary doctor.”
Emergency rooms have doctors on staff at all times, so Kusick said people who feel off, even on Christmas Day, should seek medical attention as soon as possible, to decrease the risk of permanent damage.
“I tell people, ‘follow your intuition,’” Kusick said. “If something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate because time is really important for heart attacks. The more time you wait, the more muscle injury there is, the more bad consequences can occur.”
Contreras said people should be alert to the symptoms of heart attacks amid the holiday season and ready to administer CPR as needed.
“Hands-only CPR is something nearly everyone can learn and do. We encourage at least one person in every family to learn CPR because statistics show that most cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital and often in the home,” Contreras said.
Calling 9-1-1 and starting CPR can make a difference in saving someone’s life, she continued.
“While you may not want to spend the holidays in a doctor’s office or hospital, getting checked out and receiving prompt treatment if there is a problem is one of the best gifts you can give yourself and your loved ones for all the celebrations to come,” she said.
