Heart attack deaths spike around Christmas and New Year’s, says American Heart Association

WASHINGTON - Winter holidays can turn deadly, according to the American Heart Association, who says more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than any other time of the year. The nonprofit says more cardiac deaths occur in the U.S. on December 25, December 26, and January 1 than on any other days.

Dr. Ameya Kulkarni, Associate Medical Director with Kaiser Permanente and president of the board of directors for the American Heart Association, says holiday heart attacks come as a result of a perfect storm. Kulkarni said one factor is the low winter temperatures. "And then you add the stress of the holidays and the stuff that we eat and drink in the holidays, and it's the perfect storm," he said when he spoke with FOX 5 on Monday.

Kulkarni says to pay attention to the warning signs like pain in the chest, lightheadedness, jaw, neck or back pain, discomfort or pain in the arm or shoulder, and shortness of breath. "I think the best thing you can do is just pay attention to your body. So, the stuff that was true the rest of the year is still true now," he said.

Diabetics and those with high blood pressure should monitor their numbers and don’t overindulge, Kulkarni warned. Most importantly, monitor your stress levels. "We all know that increased levels of stress can increase your risk of a heart attack, and so if you are approaching a stressful situation in the holidays, you know sort of attending to that and taking care of your body in those moments is important," he said.

He also said that keeping a healthy weight, keeping your blood pressure at a safe level, and watching your diet are principles that you should maintain year-round. Kulkarni also said that introducing new lifestyle choices should be done slowly, instead of suddenly at the beginning of the year. "The building blocks of a heart attack probably exist throughout the year," Kulkarni said. "And then you add that together with the additional adrenaline from the stress of the holidays that probably contributes—you know, that's probably the highest additional factor at this time of year."

Common heart attack warning signs from the American Heart Association

• Pain or discomfort in chest (over the chest)
• Lightheadedness, nausea, or vomiting (over the head)
• Jaw, neck or back pain (over the neck)
• Discomfort or pain in arm or shoulder (over the arm/shoulder)
• Shortness of breath (over the lungs)