Hospitals on alert for holiday heart syndrome

Hospitals across the country are on alert for a possible increase in "holiday heart syndrome" illnesses associated with binge eating and alcohol consumption during holidays or long vacations.

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Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said public and private hospitals have been instructed to keep their personnel and facilities ready for such a scenario, under the Department of Health's "Ligtas Christmas Hospital Preparedness and Response Rounds."

He cited stroke as among the illnesses that may increase this holiday due to excessive alcohol drinking and eating of fatty and salty food, stress and lack of sleep, which could elevate blood pressure.

Herbosa said that at the Philippine Heart Center alone, seven cases of stroke were reported from Dec. 1 to 20 as against the 60 cases from July to November. He added that the number is likely to increase after Christmas and New Year celebrations.

In December 2023, the Philippine Heart Center documented 38 stroke cases, while 42 cases were recorded in January this year.

On the other hand, there were 110 cases of acute coronary heart syndrome in December 2023 and 115 in January 2024.