| What is Holiday Heart? | | | | experiencing the Holiday Heart Syndrome most |
| In a nutshell: People, who are otherwise healthy | | | | often appear at the emergency room during the |
| for the most part and don't have any underlying | | | | holiday party season and graduation time. And |
| health troubles they are aware of, celebrate a | | | | with holiday tension and stress, your heart is |
| holiday - usually Christmas. They are under a little | | | | already working overtime. |
| Holiday stress and have a few "or more" drinks. | | | | The holiday season can be heart-warming; it can |
| What happens next is the alcohol stimulates the | | | | also cause heart problems. Binge drinking at |
| heart to go into an abnormal heart rhythm. The | | | | holiday parties is a bad idea - period. Anything that |
| most common is Atrial Fibrillation | | | | can cause disruption of the heart's normal rhythm |
| Most people worry about putting on a couple of | | | | "IS TO BE AVOIDED!!" It is estimated that as a |
| pounds over the Holidays, but in addition they | | | | many as 35% of cases with heart problems in |
| should be concerned about what they are doing | | | | the emergency room are attributed to Holiday |
| to their hearts. | | | | Heart Syndrome. Holiday Heart Syndrome is |
| Holiday Heart cases spike every Christmas and | | | | seldom life-threatening, but it IS very scary and I |
| New Years; emergency rooms see patients with | | | | do mean scary - like - "I think I' am dying scary." |
| symptoms of palpitations and light-headedness. | | | | Who is most at risk? |
| Further evaluation usually confirms the patient has | | | | Men more than women. It's pretty hard to predict |
| an abnormal heart rhythm, often Atrial Fibrillation. | | | | who will have an abnormal heart rhythm, but we |
| Alcohol consumption can cause significant cardiac | | | | know alcohol itself can stimulate the heart by |
| toxicity and these partiers usually have spent the | | | | reacting with or inflaming nerve pathways to |
| weekend drinking. Most often they are college | | | | cause all kinds of flip-flops and irregular beats. |
| kids who are otherwise healthy. As you rush | | | | When should you seek treatment? |
| from one holiday party to the next, it's easy to | | | | Most cases of Holiday Heart caused Atrial |
| overindulge in food and booze. (Yes, that includes | | | | fibrillation start suddenly, and after a time, stop on |
| beer and wine) | | | | their own. Alcohol is a known trigger that |
| Fortunately Holiday Heart Atrial fibrillation usually | | | | produces Atrial Fibrillation if ingested in large |
| resolves itself within 24 hours. But if not, the | | | | quantities, even in "normal" individuals. Up to 60% |
| doctor will admit you to the hospital, give you | | | | of patients who engage in heavy binge drinking will |
| medication to slow down the heart rate and keep | | | | develop episodes of Atrial fibrillation. In some |
| watch you until your heart rate returns to a | | | | individuals sensitive to alcohol, two or three drinks, |
| normal sinus rhythm. I some cases an electric | | | | and sometimes a single drink - can trigger |
| SHOCK is required to jolt your heart back into | | | | episodes of Atrial fibrillation. |
| the proper rhythm. What a fun and relaxing way | | | | Just be aware, if your hearts beats wildly for |
| to spend the holidays. | | | | more than just minutes, certainly up to hours and |
| Holiday Heart Syndrome can also occur in people | | | | it doesn't calm down. You recognize that you |
| who drink little or no alcohol, but then go on | | | | might have been drinking more alcohol than usual |
| alcohol binge or drink in excess during the holidays. | | | | and especially if you are short of breath, get |
| Holiday Heart studies indicate death rates from | | | | checked out by your regular doctor or get to the |
| heart attacks and stroke spike during the holiday | | | | emergency room. |
| season. Atrial fibrillation is the most common | | | | How can you prevent it? |
| arrhythmia in holiday heart syndrome and believe | | | | Moderation, using judgment, and certainly |
| me it is a real harrowing and NOT FUN | | | | recognizing if you've had a couple of drinks of |
| experience. Research has suggested that as | | | | alcohol, we say from your hearts point of view, |
| many as 65% of all Arrhythmias found in | | | | you really don't have a lot to gain by drinking |
| individuals under age 65 are a variation of Holiday | | | | more and maybe a lot to lose. |
| Heart Syndrome. | | | | Not-so-happy holidays; |
| Cardiologists are warning partygoers that Holiday | | | | Yes you can party like a mad man/woman and |
| Heart Syndrome sufferers often feel palpitations | | | | get away with no ill effects other than a |
| or extra heart beats, like your heart is beating | | | | headache - But - If you have a bought of Holiday |
| funny or kind of flopping in your chest. Most | | | | Heart (Atrial Fibrillation) it WILL get your attention |
| cases of Holiday Heart start as "Paroxysmal Atrial | | | | and there is the possibility the "Afib" will NOT |
| Fibrillation," that is, Atrial Fibrillation that starts | | | | resolve itself... Have a Happy Holiday and a Merry |
| suddenly, and after a time, stops suddenly. | | | | Christmas and do your heart a favor and don't |
| Watch your alcohol intake during the holidays; it's | | | | drink to excess. |
| just not worth it! Doctors have found people | | | | I can tell you - IT AIN'T WORTH IT! |