Many people see the holiday season as an opportunity to relax their healthy habits, especially when it comes to alcohol consumption. While a celebratory drink or two is tolerated, excessive drinking can have serious consequences, writes .
Expression “holiday heart syndrome” describes how episodes of excessive drinking (typically during weekends and holidays) they can cause cardiac arrhythmia or other heart problems. It usually occurs after periods of excessive consumption of at least 15 units of alcohol (approximately 3 and a half liters of 4% beer or one and a half bottles of 13% wine) within 24 hours.
This link between extreme alcohol consumption and heart disease was first identified by a research team led by Dr. Philip Ettinger in 1978. They documented 24 patients hospitalized after a weekend of heavy drinking with atrial fibrillation – when the heart’s upper chambers (the atria) are prone to shaking or twitching in such a way that this important organ has trouble maintaining adequate blood flow.
“Episodes typically followed heavy weekend or holiday drinking, leading to hospitalization between Sunday and Tuesday or in the year-end period – an association not seen in other alcohol-related illnesses,” the study authors said. However, alcohol consumption is not the only culprit. Today we know that Atrial fibrillation can also be triggered by other factors, such as caffeine intake, excessive consumption of foods high in fat and sodium, and psychological stress.
Different forms of atrial fibrillation include:
- Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation – episodes that come and go but usually resolve within 48 hours without any treatment.
- Persistent atrial fibrillation – episodes that last more than 7 days (although treatment can shorten their duration).
- Long-term persistent atrial fibrillation – when the patient has continuous atrial fibrillation for a year or more.
- Persistent atrial fibrillation – permanently present atrial fibrillation.
The British National Health Organization (NHS) states that atrial fibrillation can sometimes be asymptomatic, meaning that the individual is unaware of their irregular heart rhythm. However, atrial fibrillation is considered a serious condition because it can lead to blood clots in the heart. Therefore, it is important to recognize the warning signs of heart problems and, if necessary, seek immediate medical attention.
