Emergency facilities have patients suffering from holiday heart syndrome

LOWNDES & OKTIBBEHA COUNTIES, Miss. (WCBI)-The holidays are often open season for your favorite foods, and the trips to the gym can get lost in the hustle and bustle.

But, the rush to get back to the gym to get started on those New Year’s Resolutions could actually be bad for your heart.

Difficulty breathing, dizziness, and chest pain are just a few symptoms.

It’s called holiday heart syndrome, and it can be fatal, but it is also curable.

Every morning, Greg Jones rolls out of his bed, laces up his tennis shoes and goes for a run.

“I do a few arm rolls, just a little stuff to keep myself physically fit,” said Jones.

Jones usually runs a mile 3 times a week, but his time spent jogging turned into nap time over the holidays.

” I slacked off some during the holidays and I’m slow getting back into my routine,” said Jones.

Teresa Proffitt is hitting the pavement too.

” Do something everyday even if it’s just taking the dogs for a walk or being active in a gym class,” said Proffitt.

While Jones and Proffitt are in tune with their health, some people aren’t as fortunate.

Nurse Practitioner of Starkville’s Urgent Team Noel Bondi says he’s treated patients with holiday heart syndrome since December.

“People develop cardiac arrhythmia at a great rate than typically. It’s usually associated with excessive alcohol intake, stress, and overeating,” said Bondi.

Bondi says when you don’t exercise or eat healthy during the holidays, it can be difficult to perform everyday activities.

Sometimes, it can lead to a heart attack…

“It particularly affects those with pre-existing heart conditions and high blood pressure and high cholesterol but it can happen to anybody,” said Bondi.

Jones says those are just a few reasons why he pays attention to his health.

“I’ve seen so many of my friends and colleagues around me who you know had incidents with their heart, strokes, and that kind of stuff. I don’t want to have that stroke, or I don’t want to leave here because of a heart attack,” said Jones.

“You don’t want to jump into something full force. You want to start slow and then work your way back to where you are,” said Proffitt.