It is never too much to remember care that must be taken during celebrations , especially for the elderly and the heart patients. Several studies were dedicated to factors that may be related to an increased risk of cardiac events. For example, in a paper published in the British Medical Journal in 2018, about 280,000 hospital admissions in Sweden due to myocardial infarction were studied and their relationship with the hours of the day, the country main holidays and important sport events was evaluated. The results revealed that the risk of having an acute myocardial infarction increased by 37% on Christmas Eve and that it was particularly high in people over 75, with diabetes and / or with coronary heart disease history. The day on which the second greatest risk was identified was that of Midsummer eve. In Sweden, the day preceding the summer solstice is the most important holiday and celebration after Christmas. Other studies have also shown an increased risk of myocardial infarction in the New Year. The reason why the holiday season increases the risk of cardiac events is not fully understood. Some of the contributing factors are thought to include food and alcohol abuse, exposure to smoke from fireplaces, exposure to cold, greater emotional stress and delay in seeking medical help in the face of suspicious symptoms. For this reason, the period of Christmas and New Year, which for Portuguese is so important, must also be a period of increased care for all people with cardiovascular disease . Remember that it is essential: Do not forget to take the chronic and usual medication; Avoid overeating; Avoid excessive alcohol consumption; Avoid extreme temperatures, particularly cold; Avoid emotions and stress; Never delay seeking medical care when any suspicious symptom is present, such as severe chest pain. References Mohammad MA, Karlsson S, Haddad J, Cederberg B, Jernberg T, Lindahl B, et al. Christmas, national holidays, sport events, and time factors as triggers of acute myocardial infarction: SWEDEHEART observational study 1998-2013 . BMJ 2018;363:k4811. Phillips DP, Jarvinen JR, Abramson IS, Phillips RR. Cardiac mortality is higher around Christmas and New Year’s than at any other time: The holidays as a risk factor for death . Circulation 2004;110:3781-8. Author : José Ferreira Santos Meet the cardiology team from Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
