Doctors knew it, and the numbers a Swedish study published in 2018 confirmed it: the risk of heart attack does indeed increase (by 15%) during the holidays, with two peaks during Christmas Eve (+ 37%) and New Year (+ 20%). But why, exactly? Professor François Carré, cardiologist and sports doctor at Rennes University Hospital, answers us.
An increase which mainly concerns the elderly
“It is true that the myocardial infarction are more common during this time, as are cardiac arrests which complicate them. But we also have a number of people who are hospitalized for heart failure. It is not negligible.” However, these increases are not limited to the end of year celebrations: “This is something that we also observe among football supporters during major events, or during stock market crashes,” saidhe does.
So many contexts that have one thing in common: “They cause great emotional stress. And the epinephrine surges promote ruptures of the atheroma plaque, therefore the occurrence of a trombus (a clotted blood mass, editor’s note) in the coronary artery. “ A phenomenon which however mainly affects “People over 70 who already have heart disease or risk factors. It is very rare for this to reveal pathology, so it does not happen to healthy people.”
Watch out for lifestyle changes
Another concern for people at risk: change of diet. “People with heart failure, who must avoid salt, often eat oysters during the holidays, and this causes pulmonary edema, continues François Carré. And among the youngest, between 35 and 50, it is the drink that is the problem. The brutal consumption of alcohol disturbs the rhythm of the heart atria “
And that’s not all : “it should not be forgotten either that these changes in lifestyle are accompanied by a change in physical activity. Some don’t move at all during the holidays, and others get into frenzied dancing forgetting that they have heart problems. “
So what advice to limit the risks? “You just have to stick to your diet when you have one, and especially be attentive to symptoms, such as chest pain or irregular heartbeats. And don’t be afraid to upset the party, as is too often the case. ” Tips that will be particularly useful this year, the emotions of the post-confinement reunion that could cause a peak in accidents : “In addition, fragile people have moved less this year. Many therefore did not engage in the physical activity that is part of their treatment. Besides two thirds people gained between 3 and 5 kilos. But we just have to keep it right! “
Also read:
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- Is your heart healthy? Test it out!
- Heart attack hospitalizations fell 30% during confinement
