DUBAI: Scientists have found out that the risk of having a heart attack is 20% higher on New Year’s Day than on New Year’s Eve and researchers are speculating that this is due to the after-effects of having had too much alcohol and food, exposure to the cold at night and sleep deprivation.
A report by The Telegraph, citing a recent study in Sweden, also stated that the risk of having a heart attack peaks at 10pm on Christmas Eve, which suggests that stress, sadness and over-indulgence during the festive season can be deadly.
“However, New Years’ Eve, which is usually considered to be the main day of New Years’ celebrations, had no associated risk, possibly because symptoms of a heart attack were masked by alcohol,” said the report, citing the study’s researchers.
It added, “Instead, the risk was 20% higher on New Year’s Day, which researchers speculate could be brought on by the after effects of too much alcohol and food, exposure to cold temperatures at night, or sleep deprivation.”
The report quoted Dr David Erlinge, Department of Cardiology, Clinical Sciences, Lund University, as saying: “The main findings in our study were that traditional holidays were associated with the risk of heart attack.
“The peak is very pronounced exactly on Christmas Eve and the following two days, so, I think it is something specific for the way we celebrate these holidays.
“We do not know for sure but emotional distress with acute experience of anger, anxiety, sadness, grief, and stress increases the risk of a heart attack. Excessive food intake, alcohol,long distance travelling may also increase the risk.
“Interestingly, the pattern of increased risk in the morning which dominates the rest of the year was reversed at Christmas, with an increased risk in the evening, indicating that the stress and eating during the day triggered the heart attacks.”
