“Christmas coronary” is a term coined by doctors who noticed a disturbing pattern: heart attacks and heart-related problems peaking every year over the winter holiday season — specifically on Christmas, the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day.
In fact, studies show that the number of heart attacks increases across ages and genders by more than 30 percent in the winter, but why? Some of it can be attributed to factors you can fight or control, like these six holiday stressors:
1. Cold temperatures. Cold weather causes your blood vessels to constrict in your arms and legs, making your heart work harder. It can also cause the blood vessels to your heart to spasm, temporarily depriving the heart of oxygen.
What to do: Layer up! Keep your arms, head and feet warm –- these parts of the body tend to be forgotten but can easily get quite cold. Be especially mindful of older family members. The elderly are less likely to notice how cold they really are until they’ve lost significant amounts of body heat.
To learn five more habits that cause heart attacks, click here.
