Stroke, heart diseases prevalent after the holidays, doctors warned

While everyone is excited to eating and drinking with friends and family during the holidays, doctors remind the public to also be cautious as incidents of stroke and heart diseases are common after the celebration.

According to Dano Tingcungco’s report in “State of the Nation” on Wednesday, a study in Norway stated that the days after the Christmas holidays are considered the deadliest.

“It’s very exponential at this point. You can actually see a very linear surge of stroke patients by January or even at the end of December,” Philippe Hubert Co, physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist.

“They are usually the ones with other risk factors - increased alcohol consumption, increased stress, it could have triggered the problem, it could have made the condition worse.”

Meanwhile, studies in Australia and in Taiwan noted that there’s a high risk of death due to stroke during Christmas and this is known as the “holiday effect.”

“During the holidays, there is a lack of manpower in the hospital because of the holiday season. [In] some of the hospitals, some services are not readily available as it should be on a regular basis, this is the ‘holiday effect’,” said Co.

Experts reminded the public to avoid overeating and overdrinking during the Christmas holiday to lessen the risk for such diseases.

Exercising is also strongly advised. But how can you allot time for a workout amid the parties this month?

Co said that at least 30 minutes of exercise for three to four days a week  is “more than enough” to lower the risk for heart problems and stroke.

“You can do basic weightlifting at home. You can use [water bottles] instead of using bands. Body weight exercises or weightlifting can actually lower down your blood sugar,” he said.

“You can take a jog outside of your house, or if you have treadmill or bicycle at home, you can do some cardio at home, it will lower down your blood pressure,” Co added. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News