. >> reporter: 74-year-old vicky gerry of san jose always made sure to stay healthy.eing active and doing well. when she was doing dishes one morning, she noticed something was wrong. >> my first indication felt like a huge pain. >> reporter: it began to worsen on other parts of her body. >> i got a pain towards the back. that doesn't scream heart attack, your heart is up here. so i ran the symptoms past him, and he wanted me to hang up and dial 9111. >> reporter: and she needed a triple bypass. heart problems may be a common issue for americans. but cardiologists say during the holiday season, the issue can quickly become much worse. >> >> folks, they may have a little extra alcohol and alcohol could truly be a trigger for this condition. >> reporter: dr. valerie, a cardiologist at kaiser permanente-san jose, is talking about irregular heartbeats. >> even those who have never had any prior conditions may feel like they're having a heart attack. >> reporter: they see an increase in patients experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath this time of the year. >> we f