This isn\u2019t to say you can\u2019t enjoy your holiday season and the food- and drink-based traditions that come along with it. Instead, you should think about celebrating responsibly and doing all that you can to protect your heart health and lower your stress throughout the final weeks of the year.<\/p>\n
Below, doctors share the overlooked cardiovascular dangers of the holiday season along with ways to enjoy this time safely.<\/p>\n
Drinking too much alcohol can cause \u2018holiday heart syndrome.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cHoliday heart syndrome refers to a cardiac rhythm disturbance, an arrhythmia,\u201d said Dr. Ahmed Tawakol<\/a>, the co-director of the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. It causes an irregular heart rhythm (also known as atrial fibrillation) sometimes in otherwise healthy people after excessive or binge drinking.<\/p>\n Binge drinking \u2015 which is common around the holidays \u2015 is known to cause this issue. (Binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on a single occasion, according to Tawakol.)<\/p>\n Some people who experience holiday heart syndrome report a rapid or irregular heartbeat while others feel a sense of anxiety, Tawakol said. \u201cAnd some people it can cause shortness of breath or chest pain, dizziness \u2014 certainly can cause some fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n While holiday heart syndrome can happen in anyone, and often happens to healthy people, those who are \u201calready predisposed to heart disease, high blood pressure or sleep apnea may be at higher risk during these times of heavy drinking,\u201d Dr. Mrin Shetty<\/a>, the director of the Women\u2019s Heart Program at the University of Louisville, told HuffPost via email.<\/p>\n \u201cIn some cases, holiday heart syndrome can resolve itself within 24 to 48 hours, but it\u2019s important to understand that it can increase the risk of long-term heart issues, especially if these arrhythmias become more frequent or persist,\u201d Shetty continued. Holiday heart syndrome can increase chances of<\/a> strokes, heart attacks and blood clots.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exact mechanism behind this phenomenon isn\u2019t fully understood, but alcohol can affect the electrical signals in the heart,\u201d Shetty explained. \u201cBinge drinking leads to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and stress on the heart, all of which can make the heart more susceptible to abnormal rhythms.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe phenomenon peaks around Christmas Day, the day after Christmas and New Years Day \u2014 hence the term: holiday heart,\u201d Dr. Sarah Spelsberg<\/a>, an emergency medicine resident at UNC Health Southeastern in North Carolina, told HuffPost via email. <\/p>\n \u201cWe see it a lot in the emergency department,\u201d Spelsberg added.<\/p>\n Stress also impacts your heart health during this season.<\/p>\n While the holidays<\/a> are a joyous time for many people, they are downright stressful for others as financial concerns, family issues, busy schedules and holiday travel all come front of mind.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s interesting is that we see a surge in heart attacks around stressful periods,\u201d Tawakol said. People are more likely to have heart attacks around earthquakes, sporting events, after elections and \u201cwe also see an increase in heart attacks around the holidays,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n \u201cChronic stress can increase blood pressure, elevate heart rate and raise cortisol levels, all of which contribute to heart disease over time,\u201d Shetty said.<\/p>\n Stress can also disrupt your sleep \u2014 and sleep is crucial for so many aspects of our health, including our heart health. Not sleeping well can increase your heart disease risk, said Dr. Elizabeth Jackson<\/a>, the director of the Cardiovascular Outcomes and Effectiveness Research Program at University of Alabama at Birmingham Medicine.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re stressed, you may also not make time to exercise, which is detrimental to your cardiovascular health. <\/p>\n \u201cWe know when we\u2019re stressed, we oftentimes don\u2019t exercise as much, and becomes a bit of a vicious cycle … even just going for a walk after dinner, every little bit can help you reduce that stress, improve your sleep habits and going out for a walk has great benefits for helping you maintain a healthy weight during the holiday times, to help you with blood pressure, with blood sugar control, if you have diabetes, [it\u2019s] certainly good to keep active,\u201d Jackson added.<\/p>\n Cold weather can cause heart problems, too.<\/p>\n \u201cCold weather itself can be a factor in the winter months. If not well protected, the cold can cause … narrowing of the blood vessels, causing one\u2019s heart rate and blood pressure to rise,\u201d Shetty said. \u201cThis puts extra strain on the heart, which may not be tolerated by those with heart conditions such as angina or heart failure.\u201d<\/p>\n Shoveling heavy snow can also cause heart problems in susceptible people, according to Tawakol.<\/p>\n When it\u2019s cold out, it\u2019s important that you dress warmly to reduce strain on your heart, Spelsberg said.<\/p>\n ljubaphoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n Drinking too much alcohol can cause heart issues such as irregular heartbeat. <\/p>\n It\u2019s important that you create a relaxing routine during the holiday season.<\/p>\n![\"Drinking](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/675c46211800002400a0f5de.jpeg\")
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