The festive season is a time of gifts and revelry. But a surprise may be looming for those who party too hard. A heart attack can strike at any time in a person with coronary artery disease. It has been noted that across the globe, heart attacks are more likely during the festive season and especially between the Christmas and New Year period.
Initially this was believed to be due to the colder weather in the northern hemisphere during the Christmas period but the spike in often deadly heart attacks are just as likely to occur in warmer climates. There are several reasons why this may be the case but the exact cause has not as yet been conclusively identified and it is most likely not a single factor.
Chest pain is considered as any pain felt between the collarbone (clavicle) and lower border of the ribcage. This includes pain emanating from the thoracic (chest) cavity and upper abdomen. Chest pain is often a cause for concern because it may indicate some disease of the heart, however, other important organs lie in the area which should also be considered in a case of chest pain.
The heart is a muscular pump that works throughout your life to keep blood circulating through the entire body. It has high demands in terms of oxygen and nutrients and this is supplied to the heart muscle by the coronary arteries. When the coronary arteries are blocked, oxygen and food cannot reach the heart muscle.Without the necessary supply. the heart muscle is suffocated and the dies. This is known as a heart attack or myocardial infarction (MI).
