Last Christmas I gave you my heart: these lyrics from the Christmas song by Wham! are almost impossible to avoid at this time of year; and unfortunately for many people these words are literally true.
Because the Christmas holidays are not only a time of joy and happiness, but also the peak time for heart attacks.
According to the American Medical Association, there are more cardiac deaths on Christmas Day than any other day of the year, closely followed by Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Furthermore, research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in June this year found that the risk of a heart attack is much greater on Monday than on any other day of the week – the very day Christmas this year fall. .
So why might this time of year be so bad for our hearts – and, most importantly, what can you do to minimize the risk of you, or a loved one, having a heart attack over the holidays and into the new year?
Last Christmas I gave you my heart: these lyrics from the Christmas song by Wham! are almost impossible to avoid at this time of year; and unfortunately for many people these words are literally true
According to the American Medical Association, there are more cardiac deaths on Christmas Day than any other day of the year, closely followed by Boxing Day and New Year's Day (file photo)
One reason for this increased risk is the colder weather, which means your heart has to work harder to keep you warm; and it increases the risk of blood clots, which in turn means a greater risk of heart attack or stroke.
This time of year is also much more likely to catch the flu, which can lead to more blood clots and inflammation.
In addition, we eat and drink a lot more than usual over the Christmas period, with one study showing that people typically consume around 6,000 calories on Christmas Day alone. But in the run-up to the big day itself, there is also plenty of festive food, and that, together with the drinks, puts greater pressure on the heart.
All this also means that we are less likely to pay attention to the symptoms of a heart attack, especially if the pain is relatively mild.
If you have eaten too much, you may dismiss chest pain as a case of indigestion rather than calling an ambulance or going to the emergency room.
Other possible causes of a Christmas coronary include increased stress (not all family gatherings are happy) and disturbed sleep.
So what can you do about it?
We eat and drink a lot more than usual over the Christmas period, with one study showing that people consume around 6,000 calories on Christmas Day alone (Stock Image)
In the run-up to the big day itself, there is also plenty of festive food, and that, together with the drinks, puts greater pressure on the heart (Stock Image)
If you're eligible, I recommend getting a flu shot (I did that too) and trying to limit the amount of drinking, especially if you're at higher risk for a heart attack.
However, I know that is easier said than done. I love sweet treats so much that I've asked friends and family not to give me chocolates for Christmas this year. Instead, I eat walnuts or almonds because they are rich in protein and healthy fats, which have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
I try to minimize the amount of booze I drink by alternating a glass of water for every glass of alcohol.
I also make sure to take a brisk walk right after a heavy meal, as that helps direct some of that fat and sugar from my blood to my muscles, where it can be safely burned. And this year, when we visit my mother, who lives by the sea, I might even go swimming on Christmas Day.
Since stress plays a major role in holiday-related heart attacks, I'm going to belt out the Christmas carols with extra enthusiasm because research shows that singing not only increases levels of endocannabinoids (feel-good chemicals your body produces), but also markers of heart health, such as heart rate variability (that is, the amount of time between each heartbeat), which is a powerful predictor of heart health.
In addition, I will regularly do deep breathing exercises (my favorite is 4:2:4 – you breathe in through your nose for a count of four, hold for a count of two, then breathe out through your mouth for a count of four), as a few minutes of this will slow your heart rate and will produce a wonderful feeling of calm.
I find that breathing slowly and deeply is especially helpful when I'm awake at night because it helps me fall back asleep quickly – and that's important because being a poor sleeper is another major risk factor when it comes to having a heart attack.
Research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in June this year found that the risk of a heart attack is much greater on Monday than on any other day of the week – the very day Christmas this year falls (Stock Image)
A study presented at the American College of Cardiology conference last February found that insomnia increases the risk of heart attack by 69 percent — and the Christmas holidays, with all the drinking and late nights, are almost guaranteed to disrupt sleep . making you feel tired and stressed.
Drinking less alcohol and prioritizing some shuteye should help.
And finally, if I didn't already have a blood pressure monitor, I would ask Santa for one before Christmas, because measuring it is the only way to know if blood pressure is elevated, a leading cause of heart attacks.
So that's the bad news. The good news is that more people than ever are surviving a heart attack, and the sooner you adopt healthier habits, the sooner you'll start reducing your risks.
In addition to lifestyle changes, there are of course statins (which I take) along with more modern medications, such as PCSK9 inhibitors, which are available on the NHS for people who cannot tolerate statins or for whom statins are not enough to reduce the risk of heart attack Reduce.
There is even a vaccine being developed at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in the US that has been shown to be a cheap and effective way to lower cholesterol in animals.
In the meantime, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year.