Death at the holidays: Why so many heart attacks occur on Christmas eve

The holidays are a danger for the health of the heart

The Christmas holidays are meant to be a contemplative time, in which people unwind and relax. Unfortunately, the opposite is often the case: It is hustle and bustle and Stress. Researchers found now that the holidays seem to have a negative impact on the health of the heart. The Christmas eve attacks, according to the experts of the day with the most heart in the entire year.

The scientists at the Lund University and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, noted in a joint investigation, that over the Christmas holidays there is an increased risk for heart attacks. The Stress of the holidays seems to be right on top of our heart health. The doctors published the results of their study in the English journal “The BMJ”.

Christmas eve the risk for heart attacks increased by almost 40 percent

The Christmas holidays are not supposed to be a relaxing and contemplative time, however, this often corresponds to the reality. Often there is just the Christmas days a lot of Stress and time pressure. Especially the Christmas eve is the worst day of the year for heart attacks, say doctors. The risk for a heart attack, rose on that day, almost 40 percent, add the experts. In particular, the studies have shown that most heart attacks occur on this day, to 22.00.

Doctors studied 283.014 heart attacks

In the current observational study, the Timing of 283.014 heart was analyzed attacks, which were reported between 1998 and the year 2013. The data used came from the so-called Swedish coronary care unit registry. The Christmas eve is the main in Sweden, time to meet in the holidays with the family, to celebrate, to drink and to eat, say the researchers.

When was the risk for a heart attack is also increased?

There was another Swedish holiday, which was associated with a higher risk for a heart attack, it is Midsummer. On this holiday in mid-June, the businesses close and families come together typically. In addition, the scientists found in the evaluation of the data, many incidence of heart attacks in the early Morning (before 8 am) and on Mondays, the probability for the formation of the heart was increased infarction. In the Easter holidays and during sports events, the scientists were able to determine, however, no increased risk for a heart attack.

Further research is needed