Exercise and heart attacks - "More people die from heart attacks between December 25th and Jan 1st."

American Heart Association

December 14, 2021

 "    . . . more people die from heart attacks between December 25th and January 1st."

I’m sure you’ve seen some of the chatter around the Sex and the City episode where a character experiences a heart attack and the subsequent national PR campaign from Peloton.  While lots of people are sad about the loss of a beloved character, there are some VERY helpful lessons – could you help us get this out in the community with a story this week?   As always, I will get an AHA expert lined up for the interview to speak to the relevant research and add some local flavor.

• Holiday heart attacks are real: Research over time has shown an uptick in cardiac events during the winter holiday season, and more people die from heart attacks between December 25th and January 1st  than at any other time of the year. Heart attack deaths more likely during winter holiday season than any other time of year | American Heart Association
• Why didn’t they do CPR on the show? Hands-Only CPR is easy to learn and can save a life in an emergency: Hands-Only CPR | American Heart Association CPR & First Aid
• Isn’t exercise supposed to prevent heart attacks?  Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity (or a combination of both), preferably spread throughout the week. How much physical activity do you need? | American Heart Association