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The holidays increase cardiac risks and reduce medical access, making proactive cardiac health strategies essential during this season.
While Christmas may have worked wonders for the Grinch’s heart, the holiday season poses unique challenges for human heart health. With an uptick in cardiac risks and decreased access to medical care during the holidays, proactive strategies are critical.
Holiday Heart Syndrome
In the United States, between 5% and 10% of new atrial fibrillation diagnoses are linked to alcohol consumption. Alcohol-induced atrial arrhythmia, termed “Holiday Heart Syndrome” (HHS), often manifests with symptoms such as palpitations, dyspnea, anxiety, weakness, and chest pain. Evidence suggests that hypertension, structural heart disease, neurohumoral stress, and cardiometabolic disorders predispose individuals to HHS. The term originated from observations that most affected individuals did not chronically abuse alcohol and were otherwise healthy. Although patients with HHS without hemodynamic compromise can typically be managed conservatively, once developed, atrial fibrillation poses a lifelong risk of recurrence once it develops.
For this reason, researchers in a 2024 review published in The American Journal of Medicine have proposed classifying alcohol as a modifiable risk factor for both atrial fibrillation and general heart disease.
Increased Coronary Artery Death
Even in the mild climate of Los Angeles County, seasonal variations exist in the development of coronary artery death, with approximately 33% more deaths occurring in December and January than in June through September. Research by Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD, and colleagues concluded, “Although cooler temperatures may play a role, other factors such as overindulgence or the stress of the holidays might also contribute to excess deaths during these peak times.”
Decreased Care
Healthcare staffing shortages worsen during the holiday season, according to healthcare staffing company CareerStaff. Simultaneously, patient volumes regularly spike due to various holiday-related incidents. This holiday combination negatively impacts patients with cardiac issues:
- A 2024 Journal of Chest Surgery study on the “weekend effect” in extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECMO) revealed that in situations involving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the time to arrival of the ECMO team was longer during off-hours on weekends and holidays.
- A Tzu Chi Medical Journal study found that hospital admission for pulmonary embolism (PE) during the Chinese New Year holiday was associated with a 68% higher 7-day mortality risk and a 41% higher in-hospital mortality risk compared with weekday admissions.
- Similarly, the 2024 OptiLink heart failure study reported that telemedicine alert transmissions for patients with heart failure during weekends and holidays were less likely to result in timely patient contacts and pharmacological interventions.
These findings highlight the need to maintain high-quality cardiac care during holiday periods.
Looking Ahead
The holidays present a double-edged sword to heart health due to increased cardiac risks and reduced care. Proactive strategies, including increased awareness, risk factor modification, and revised care protocols, are essential to mitigate holiday-related cardiac challenges.
To learn more about holiday-related health issues, click here.
