December can be hard on the heart as people eat and drink too much, and stress about the festive season.
“The holidays are the worst time of the year” for heart health, Dr. Marc Eisenberg, a clinical cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center in New York, previously told TODAY.com.
“It’s because of the salt, it’s because of travel. It’s also because alcohol can also put you into abnormal heart rhythms and can raise your blood pressure.”
It’s called holiday heart syndrome, with cardiologists urging people to be especially mindful about heart health this month.
Cardiologist Tip of the Day: Limit Alcohol and Go for a Walk
These two simple habits can help prevent holiday heart syndrome, doctors say.
“I think alcohol is OK for people, but I’m just saying I don’t overdo it,” Eisenberg says. “One to two drinks is fine.”
Meanwhile, light to moderate physical activity, such as walking, reduces the risk of atrial fibrillation, a common type of an irregular heart beat, studies have found.
Why It Matters
“Holiday heart syndrome is a very real entity, and typically what happens is people drink more alcohol than they usually do, and it can lead to palpitations, often in the middle of the night,” Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, previously told TODAY.com.
Sometimes it can lead to atrial fibrillation that requires people to be hospitalized, he added.
Other heart problems can appear as well.
The risk of having a heart attack peaks on Christmas Eve and then again on New Year’s Day, one study found after analyzing 16 years of hospital admissions.
How to Get Started
Start Dry January early and don’t drink alcohol. If you do decide to drink, stick to moderate alcohol use — two drinks maximum per day for men, one drink max for women.
Be mindful of alcohol as you’re attending celebrations. Going from an office holiday party to a private gathering with friends afterwards can amount to several drinks in one night.
Pay attention to symptoms that feel like the heart is fluttering, pounding or beating too hard or fast.
Go for a short walk after a big holiday meal, and incorporate walking into your daily routine. Walking comes with many benefits for the heart, mind and body.
Download the Start TODAY app to get walking plans and podcasts.
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
