Iowans, Illinoisans Warned To Look Out For ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome’

It sounds warm and fuzzy when it's actually anything but.

When you think of the phrase 'holiday heart', you probably think of something like this:

via GIPHY

Unfortunately, what it actually is has nothing to do with charity and kindness during the holiday season.

It has more to do with the stress your family has brought upon you and the 47 cookies we're living off of until next week.

A release from the Cleveland Clinic obtained by WHO13 in Des Moines warns people of 'holiday heart syndrome', which causes more people to die from heart issues between December 25th-January 1st than any other time of the year.

It comes from being busy, stressed out, overindulged on food and booze. So much so that we're not really listening to our bodies when it's screaming for veggies, water, and sleep. Our routines are disrupted and we don't have time to exercise.

If you already have diabetes or high blood pressure, you're more at risk but signs of holiday heart syndrome can include:

• Palpitations
• Fatigue
• Shortness of Breath

Dr. Luke Laffin, a preventive cardiologist for Cleveland Clinic, said in the release:

Make sure you are consuming enough fruits and vegetables. You also want to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. If all we’re having is eggnog and champagne, that’s a problem.

Dr. Laffin also recommends cutting back on salty food and alcohol.

And if you're thinking you're fine for another week or so when you get it together, 'holiday heart syndrome' can present itself in this timeframe. So let's start back in on the veggies now.