Moderate drinking can prevent ‘holiday heart syndrome’

The holiday season is a time to rejoice, but too much joy can be harmful to your health. According to Sharon Reimold, M.D., Professor and Vice Chair for Clinical Operations and Faculty Development in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, December sees a significant increase in the number of patients who present to hospital emergency rooms with what’s known unofficially as holiday heart syndrome – heart rhythm problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

“During this time of year, it’s common for people to attend multiple parties.” You go to one party and have one or two drinks, then go to the next party and have a few more. The cumulative effect of alcohol can put you at risk, putting your heart into atrial fibrillation,” cardiologist Dr. Reimold explained.

Atrial fibrillation, often known as AFib, is a fast and erratic contraction of the upper chambers of the heart. Shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, heart palpitations, and the sensation that the heart is pounding significantly quicker than normal are the most prevalent symptoms. AFib is linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart failure.

Symptoms may be intermittent and usually disappear within 24 hours, but they should never be ignored. Always get medical attention if you are experiencing heart difficulties, especially holiday heart syndrome.

The condition is not limited to the holidays. It can happen whenever there is too much alcohol. Excessive food consumption, particularly salty meals, can also be a problem.

According to federal health guidelines, moderate alcohol intake is defined as no more than two drinks per day for males and no more than one drink per day for women. A drink is 8 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor. These guidelines also advocate limiting sodium intake to no more than 2,300 mg per day. The American Heart Association recommends keeping sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day.

A considerable majority of new AFib cases have been connected to excessive alcohol consumption, according to studies. Furthermore, once an episode has been confirmed, patients are more likely to experience another episode of AFib in the future.

Dr. Reimold recommends holiday revelers to keep track of how much they’re drinking and eating this season. She stressed the importance of moderation. Another option is the burgeoning market for nonalcoholic beers, wines, mocktails, and no-alcohol spirits, which range from tequila to whiskey to gin.

The Gail Griffiths Hill Chair in Cardiology is held by Dr. Reimold.

About UT Southwestern Medical Center

UT Southwestern, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution’s faculty members have received six Nobel Prizes and include 26 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 21 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 13 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The full-time faculty of more than 3,100 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in more than 80 specialties to more than 120,000 hospitalized patients, more than 360,000 emergency room cases, and oversee nearly 5 million outpatient visits a year.

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