MADISON, Wis. — Christmas feasting is over, and while that means rest for some, others will be in the hospital with heart problems.Bob Leschke is an ER physician with St. Mary’s Emergency Center in Sun Prairie. he said more people visit hospitals around the nation with heart problems on Dec. 26 than any other day of the year.”They chalk up their symptoms to a little indigestion or they say ‘I don’t have time to get this checked out.’ so they ignore their symptoms, perhaps until it’s too late,” Leschke said.according to a 2004 nationwide study by researchers at the University of California-San Diego, heart-related deaths increase 5 percent during the holidays.Leschke said eating fatty and salty foods or drinking too much wine can be among the biggest triggers. But the holidays pose other health risks too.”Around the holidays people have higher stress levels and they have higher strenuous activity levels, so more shoveling more moving furniture to get ready for family, more running around shopping,” Leschke said.some Madison residents, like Joseph Muenich, said they were more health conscious while cooking this Christmas.”We are kind of heart healthy this year. ?We hardly put any butter on anything anymore, no one eats mayonaise. It’s kinda just a new lifestyle,” Muenich said.Pat Heiden said she served more salad and toned down the seasoning too this year.”We monitor the food because my husband had bypass surgery two years ago, so … we’re very portion controlled,” Heiden said.Leschke said it’s crucial to recognize heart attack signals early to prevent further damage to heart muscles. the most common symptoms are chest pain, chest pressure, back pain and shortness of breath.”Your family is your family, and they would want you to be safe and healthy,” Leschke said.anyone experience heart attack symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.