July heat may feel deadly, but the Grim Reaper is actually a percentage point or so more likely to visit Georgians in the colder months than high summer, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control.
Doctors and scientists have a couple of ideas about the pattern, which is repeated nationwide. The American Heart Association has said heart-related deaths are more common in the winter in climates across the country. It might be due to cold weather constricting blood vessels and raising blood pressure, according to the AHA.
Holiday-season bad behavior might be a contributor, too: Other studies point out that from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, people are prone to eat unhealthily, drink too much and ditch doctors to hang around with family and friends.
Monthly deaths in Georgia as a percent of annual total, 1999-2013
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