On the last Monday before Christmas, the staff at Univision´s midday news edition gifted their Navidad-adoring public with a fear-mongering report linking the joys of the season with – mind you- not COVID, but heart attacks.
Forget about the Christ in Christmas, forget about the true meaning of the Holiday; heck, even forget about vaccines and boosters: from Christmas through January 1st, buying and sharing presents, hosting your family for a traditional dinner, or hopping on a plane to embrace loved ones, could be so stressful, according to Univision, that the celebrations can be “marred by what represents the biggest cause of death among adults these days, and that is cardiac arrests.”
NOTICIERO UNIVISION, EDICION DIGITAL
12/19/22
BORJA VOCES: And look, speaking of Christmas, the celebration of these holidays, and the celebration of the new year, can be marred by what represents the biggest cause of death among adults these days, and that is cardiac arrest. Well, to talk about this topic we´re connecting with cardiologist, Doctor Jorge Bordenave.
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DR. JORGE BORDENAVE: During Christmas, until January first, there is an increase in the level of stress, people are buying gifts, family visits from afar, they have to travel away from home. The quality of food, they are eating a lot of food, in all quantities; They're not exercising. These are all factors that we believe that increase the incidence of cardiovascular heart attacks during Christmas.
While Univision´s medical expert explained that the symptoms of a heart attack are the same regardless of the season, he also managed to blame the holiday traditions as stress-triggers. And while that may be the reality for some, lumping all revelers into one category to effectively take the joy out of the Season for Joy, hardly makes sense, particularly to an audience for whom Christmas is the biggest family celebration of the year.
Borja Voces´ report also mentioned the dangers of undertaking strenuous outdoor activities in extreme cold, especially for persons with (some unbeknownst) heart conditions. We are thankful that the report fell short of blaming “climate change” for an increase in cardiovascular incidents among a public that reveres its tradiciones navideñas, Christmas traditions.
Press on expand to view the complete transcript of the segment mentioned above.
BORJA VOCES: And look, speaking of Christmas, the celebration of these holidays, and the celebration of the new year, can be marred by what represents the biggest cause of death among adults these days, and that is cardiac arrest. So much so that the American Heart Association is recommending being alert to the symptoms of a heart attack. Well, to talk about this topic we connected with the doctor, cardiologist, Jorge Bordenave. Doctor, thank you for being with us. Please tell us what the symptoms of a heart attack are; That is, how can we know when we are getting one? Go ahead.
DR. JORGE BORDENAVE: The typical chest pain, pressure, like an elephant, a deep weight in the very center of the chest, nausea, tiredness, women; Diabetics have a little different symptomatology that is not necessarily pressure or chest pain. It may be that a person feels abnormal tiredness. That is, they are the same symptoms felt by a person at any time. Well, during Christmas, until January first, there is an increase in the level of stress, people are buying gifts, family comes from afar, they have to travel away from home. The quality of food, they are eating a lot of food, in all quantities; They're not exercising. These are all factors that we believe increase the incidence of cardiovascular heart attacks during Christmas.
VOCES: Now doctor, I would like to ask you how cold affects one, and why you say it can contribute to an increase in heart attacks.
BORDENAVE: It is very common that in the cities to the north, when people have a lot of snow, they are outside, they are removing the snow from the driveways, from the streets, there are many men, and women too, but mainly men, who suffer heart attacks. Even this season there are a number of people who have reported cleaning their sidewalks, trying to remove the snow that have suffered heart attacks because there is a vasoconstriction. These people may not know that they have coronary heart disease, and that they are making a well-forced effort where there is cold, an environment of snow and cold. That causes the arteries to constrict and get smaller, and if this person has some type of arteriosclerosis, some type of cholesterol deposits, there is decreased blood flow from being outside in a cold environment, where there is more vasoconstriction and pumping up takes more effort, with much less blood supplying the heart muscle, and it can lead to a heart attack.
VOCES: Well, doctor, thank you very much for connecting with us. You know, a severe pain in the chest; for women extreme fatigue, you have to consult with our doctor. And take life with more philosophy, right? It's okay if we don't arrive on time with a gift. Thank you doctor.
