Health
Holiday Heart Health: Simple Tips for December
Health Points
- Excess salt, alcohol, and stress can strain your heart during December.
- Cardiologists recommend limiting alcohol and staying active to prevent holiday heart syndrome.
- Walking regularly and monitoring symptoms can help keep your heart healthy this season.
December brings extra celebrations, often leading to overindulgence and added pressure. Cardiologists warn that these factors can increase heart risks during the holidays.
“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.
Salt-heavy foods and frequent travel can make matters worse. Even moderate drinking can raise blood pressure or trigger abnormal heart rhythms.
Doctors call this “holiday heart syndrome,” highlighting the importance of mindful habits. Two key tips: keep alcohol consumption moderate and add daily walks to your routine.
“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.”
Light to moderate activity, such as walking, is shown to lower the risk of irregular heartbeats, including atrial fibrillation.
“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, severe cases require hospitalization. The chance of heart attacks also rises, peaking on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
Consider starting Dry January early or keep alcohol to a safe minimum—no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women. Monitor your intake at social gatherings and be aware of signs like heart fluttering or rapid pulse.
After a big holiday meal, taking a walk can support both heart and overall well-being.
Stay proactive this season—small changes help protect your heart for holidays to come.
