The Dangers
Perhaps it is the pressure of holiday shopping, the stress of seeing your "loved" ones (remember, you can’t pick your family), or the tension of travel. Perhaps it is the fact that people tend to ignore their new symptoms during the holidays, not wanting to ruin everyone else’s fun. Perhaps now people are too nervous to frequent an emergency room, fearing they are stuffed with infectious COVID-19 patients.
Alarmingly, it has been found that death is more likely to occur en route to the hospital or in the emergency room during the holidays, indicating that people are likely waiting too long to address their new symptoms (or possibly traffic is horrendous). In addition, as devouring salty holiday foods and enjoying a bit too much alcohol can raise one’s blood pressure, many partiers are now at an increased risk for having heart attacks, strokes, aortic dissections (a tear in the aorta, the main artery leading away from the heart), and heart failure (fluid overload).
Moreover, alcohol can also trigger palpitations (feeling one’s heart beating) as well as be the culprit for causing a dangerous heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation, when one’s heart beats fast and irregularly and can allow for the build-up of clots in the heart which can subsequently cause a stroke. In fact, atrial fibrillation is so common during the holidays that the term "holiday heart" has been coined.
To all of you holiday travelers out there, also beware. Traveling long distances puts you at an increased risk for developing dangerous blood clots in your legs. These leg clots can then break off and travel to your lungs, causing what is called a pulmonary embolism (lung clot) which can be quickly fatal. If you have recently endured a long car, bus, or plane ride and now have leg pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath or palpitations, haul yourself over to the nearest emergency room for an ultrasound to rule out a clot, as starting blood thinners promptly if you do have a clot can save your life.
Don't Ignore Your Symptoms
Unfortunately, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have ignored routine medical check-ups and screening tests, possibly now placing them at an even higher risk of suffering cardiovascular emergencies. They have also avoided seeking medical care when new non-COVID-19 related symptoms arise, particularly because they are afraid to leave their homes. Indeed, people should know that doctor’s offices and emergency rooms have put into place safe measures to protect people from catching COVID-19. Therefore, do not ignore new symptoms, and get help sooner rather than later.
If you have a new symptom, put down the eggnog and get yourself to a doctor. Do not be responsible for ruining your family’s holiday dinner by collapsing in the middle of dessert.
Dr. Marc Eisenberg
Dr. Marc Sabin Eisenberg, M.D., F.A.C.C. is an associate professor of medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. He is co-author of the book "Am I Dying?!: A Complete Guide to Your Symptoms and What to Do Next" and co-host of the "Am I Dying?!" podcast, which provides light-hearted advice for the hypochondriac in all of us. He writes the "Rounds With Dr. E" column.
