Death During The Holidays

I read something in my local newspaper that is interesting because it's a little mysterious why.  The article said that in the United States you're more likely to die of natural causes from Dec. 25 through New Year's Day than at any other time of the year. Further, there isn't a reason that clearly explains it. According to studies using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this holds true for all ages except for children and for numerous conditions including heart disease, respiratory problems and cancer. Why are we dropping like flies during what should be the happiest time of the year?

The best guesses why so far include peculation from in-law stress during the holidays (surely you have or had a relative that brings on high blood pressure or a stroke when he arrives at your home for Christmas dinner) to the excesses of eating all that fruitcake and eggnog. But the doctors and researcher opinion is the weather is killing. The colder it is, the more vulnerable people's bodies might be to having a complication from a heart attack, flu or other ailment that they can't recover from. Maybe....because according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association on Thursday, the rise in deaths during the holidays doesn't appear to have anything to do with the cold winter months. Besides, the global warming nuts say it isn't cold anymore.

Some of those who poo poo those reasons for the increased deaths suggest the possibility of reduced staffing at medical facilities or even that patients hold back on seeking medical care during the season as being factors causing the jump in deaths.  Too, they say that  it could be that terminally ill patients may be hanging on to spend the holiday with their loved ones and then feel ready to let go and say good bye. However, I suspect they aren't hanging on to get the last piece of fruitcake and eggnog.

Many people suffer loneliness, disappointment, disillusionment or conflict during the Christmas holidays. That could be a powerful impetus for adverse health outcomes. The holidays bring changes in routine and schedules including late nights, more work sleep and other non routine out of ordinary events.  Maybe the unrealistic expectations of the holidays are too much to take. What do you think?