Holidays can be dangerous

From a health standpoint, the holidays are one of the most dangerous times of the year. They can be stressful, and people tend to eat more salt and fat, which is why heart-related deaths increase by 5 percent.

Also, people tend to delay care during the holidays because they’re traveling or at a party and think acid reflux or heartburn is causing their chest pain, when it fact it’s cardiac ischemia. But, as doctors say, “time is muscle”: The more delay, the more damage to the heart.

And then, of course, there’s the binge drinking that occurs on New Year’s Eve and fills hospital ERs with semi-conscious bodies.

The message here? Eat mindfully and drink sparingly if you want to enjoy the holidays in good health.