Your risk of a heart attack may peak during the holiday season.
The holidays are often a time of excess, which is not good for your heart.
Whether you’re attending holiday parties or visiting with family, there are plenty of opportunities to indulge in food and alcohol. It’s fine to indulge from time to time, but excess amounts of food and alcohol can have serious effects on your health.
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Holiday heart syndrome, irregular heartbeat, and atrial fibrillation are more common after bouts of binge drinking. This is known to occur even in healthy individuals.
Episodes of cardiac rhythm disorders usually follow heavy weekend or holiday bouts of drinking. Hospitalizations for heart rhythm disorders are most common between Sunday and Tuesday around year-end holidays. This relationship is not observed in other alcohol-related illnesses.
Some studies have found that the risk of heart attack spikes by 15% on the Christmas and New Year holidays. The risk also increases on New Year’s Eve and other midsummer holidays, like the 4th of July.
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Fortunately, holiday heart syndrome tends to go away after bouts of drinking. When people stop drinking, holiday heart syndrome tends to resolve itself. If you notice a faster than normal or fluttering heartbeat while drinking, consider cutting back on your alcohol intake.
From alcohol to caffeine to supplemental vitamins to exercise, everything in moderation is a good rule to follow. Try not to overdo anything. Holiday heart syndrome illustrates this rule very well.
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Alcohol and Heart Health
Alcohol is known to affect the nervous system and many other functions in the body, which have the potential to cause irregular heartbeat.
In addition to alcohol consumption, the holidays may also affect the heart in different ways. Financial problems, buying gifts, and hosting friends and family can also cause added stress during this time. Diets can also worsen during the holidays, as sweets, leftovers, and sugary foods are often found lying around the house.
Holiday parties or visiting family makes it easy for your regular exercise or sleep routine to get thrown off.
As a result, it may come as no surprise that the number of heart attacks tends to increase around Christmas.
Holiday heart syndrome isn’t necessarily dangerous. It’s likely scary to notice a rapid heart rate or a skipped heartbeat. Still, without the presence of other symptoms or a history of previous heart problems, holiday heart syndrome will likely resolve on its own.
People may develop some extra beats or palpations, but they usually get better within a 24-hour period.
However, there are cases in which alcohol-related irregular heartbeat should be taken very seriously. You should consider seeking immediate medical attention if an irregular heartbeat is accompanied by other symptoms, such as:
- Dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of vision
Irregular heartbeat is associated with more serious complications, including heart failure and stroke. Both of these complications can result in death if not treated properly.
Heart failure is also more common during the holidays. While the vast majority of heart syndromes will resolve by abstaining from alcohol, it’s important to be aware of how you’re feeling and keep your health and medical history in the back of your mind.
If you experience abrupt changes to how you feel or are concerned about your health, it’s better to err on the side of caution and see a professional. This holiday season, enjoy your friends, family, and co-workers. Celebrate with food and drink but remember to do so carefully. Contact a medical professional as quickly as possible if you feel shortness of breath.
