Holiday Heart Attacks: Here's Why You Should Steer Clear Of Stress

The holidays are a great time to relax and have fun with family. However, they can also be tremendously stressful. Buying gifts, making food and socializing can be very exhausting. Now, researchers are linking Christmas and New Years to an increased risk of heart attack.

"We certainly know that there are certain risk factors for coronary artery disease. There's obviously smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia [high cholesterol], diabetes, lack of exercise, and age," said Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD, a researcher at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and a professor at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, via WebMD. "But we're also learning that there are certain triggers for cardiovascular events," he adds, "including time of the year and seasons. If we can get a true handle on the seasonal variation, we could knock down death from coronary disease."

Research from over a decade ago has shown that more fatal heart attacks occur on Christmas Day than any other day of the year. The 2nd day filled with the heaviest heart issues is Dec. 26 and then Jan.1 coming in for third.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that high blood pressure affects about one in three Americans. When chronic stress is added to the mix, it can result in increased risk of certain heart problems.

"You can have it and have virtually no symptoms and not really know it-not recognize it," says David Brown, MD, at cardiologist at the Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, via CBSDFW. "It's a big deal."

The unfortunate trend has even been coined by health care officials as the "Christmas Coronary."

Making the right lifestyle choices can prevent certain health problems. Talk with your doctor about what's right for you.

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).