“Holiday heart syndrome” may sound like the name of an ER-based Hallmark movie, but it’s actually a dangerous medical condition. While we all like to kick back and indulge a little during the festive season, it turns out that bingeing too hard on your favorite guilty pleasures can turn ugly – fast.
“The term ‘holiday heart syndrome’ was first described almost 50 years ago,” said Blake Smith, a cardiac electrophysiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Cardiovascular Institute, in an article last year.
“It was noted that multiple patients were being hospitalized with cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, after binge drinking alcohol,” Smith explained. “These events were noted to be more frequent around weekends and holidays, when people are more prone to binge drinking.”
Basically, drink too much alcohol in too short a time period and it can send your heart into irregular rhythms or palpitations. The reasons behind it aren’t totally understood, but it’s thought to be a combination of things. A few studies have linked alcohol consumption to a disruption in the body’s electrical signaling, which can wreak havoc with the heart’s regulation; others point to the fact that alcohol dehydrates you and makes you feel like crap the next day (seriously – one 1983 study found the resting heart rate in healthy non-alcoholics to be 17 percent higher 12 hours after a binge than normal).
“The more alcohol you drink, the higher your heart rate gets,” said Stefan Brunner, a cardiologist at the University Hospital Munich in Germany, in 2018.
Holiday heart syndrome doesn’t have to be caused by binge drinking, however. A diet high in saturated fats and sodium is also linked with heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation – precisely the kind of indulgent treats we tend to tuck into over the holiday season.
Whatever the cause, though, holiday heart syndrome is definitely concerning. Atrial fibrillation “puts patients at an increased risk of stroke,” Smith said, “especially in the setting of other risk factors, like high blood pressure and diabetes.”
So, what are the signs to look out for? “The most common symptom is usually the sudden onset of palpitations, where someone feels like their heart is beating fast or irregularly,” Smith explained. “These palpitations can be intermittent or continuous.”
Additionally, “holiday heart syndrome may be associated with shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pain, especially if the heart rate is significantly elevated,” he advised.
These symptoms are usually temporary, clearing up within 12 to 24 hours of onset in more than 90 percent of cases. That’s no reason to ignore or downplay it, though: once you experience alcohol-related atrial fibrillation, there’s between a one in five and one in three chance you’ll get it again, especially if you continue drinking. In fact, outside of having a recognized heart problem, moderate to heavy drinking is one of the best predictors of isolated atrial fibrillation episodes developing into a chronic heart issue.
“While enjoying the holidays is important, moderation is key to keeping it heart-healthy,” Smith said. “Staying hydrated and not neglecting regular physical activity will also help.”
“The best way to avoid holiday heart syndrome is to avoid binge drinking,” he added. “In general, it is recommended to not exceed more than one drink per day for women, or two drinks per day for men.”
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The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
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