BOSTON —The holiday season can be a time of good cheer, brightly lit parties, and the pleasure of family reunions. It can also be a lonely or stressful time, and a season of eating, drinking, or spending too much. These downsides, along with other factors, may contribute to a spike in heart disease deaths over the holidays, reports the Harvard Heart Letter.

A handful of small studies have hinted that death has its season, and winter is it. What is it about the holiday season that isn’t conducive to good health? The Harvard Heart Letter points to these possible factors:

Temperature . Cold temperatures can increase blood pressure and make blood more likely to form artery-blocking clots.

Short days, long nights . . Dwindling daylight alters levels of hormones that can affect the heart and mood.

Cholesterol cycles . Levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides peak in December and January.

Respiratory disease . Coughs, colds, and the flu are more common in the winter.

Holiday stress . Stress can fire up chest pain (angina) and trigger heart attacks.

Changes in diet and alcohol intake . Gaining weight, increasing salt intake, eating too much or too fast, or drinking too much all have health consequences.

Travel. Travel can increase stress, medication lapses, and delay in seeking care.

Striking a balance between celebration and health can be a challenge. The following tips can help guide you through a healthy holiday:

Stick with your medication schedule. Find time for physical activity. Get a flu shot. Take time to relax. If you notice signs that something isn’t right with your health, get help.