What To Know About Holiday Heart Syndrome

It's possible you could experience holiday heart syndrome during parties and family gatherings around the holiday season. Holiday heart syndrome refers to a phenomenon in which binge drinking causes heart palpitations or arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm). Binge drinking is four or more drinks within two hours for women or five or more drinks for men.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common type of arrhythmia that causes holiday heart syndrome. It causes the heart to beat irregularly or too slowly or quickly.

What Is Holiday Heart Syndrome?

The term "holiday heart syndrome" dates back to the 1970s. A healthcare provider coined it to describe the volume of otherwise healthy people showing up around holidays with arrhythmia after binge drinking.

The phenomenon isn't restricted to festive occasions, despite its name. "Holiday heart syndrome could be common any time an individual uses alcohol excessively," Regina Druz, MD, founder and chief executive officer of Holistic Heart Centers, told Health.

Causes

Holiday heart syndrome may result from the connection between excessive alcohol use, high stress, and dehydration. Arrhythmia can be the result of these conditions, with alcohol at the root of the issue. Research has shown that holiday heart syndrome may also have to do with how alcohol affects the cardiovascular system.

Alcohol doesn't allow the heart to contract appropriately. A study published in 2021 found that just small amounts of alcohol can increase the "fight-or-flight" response and inhibit the "rest-and-digest" response, meaning that the heart rate will start to get higher.

AFib is a common type of arrhythmia. AFib occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) pump blood too quickly, getting out of sync with the lower chambers. This disrupts your heart's ability to distribute blood throughout your body.

Risk Factors

It can happen to anyone, but some people have a higher likelihood of developing holiday heart syndrome. Risk factors for AFib include:

• Age (older than 65 years)
• Certain health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart failure
• Drinking a lot of alcohol
• Family history of AFib or heart disease
• Recent surgery on the esophagus, heart, or lungs
• Substance use disorder

What Does It Feel Like?

The most common symptom of holiday heart syndrome is an irregular heart rate. You may suddenly develop heart palpitations, which feel like your heart is beating faster than usual. Heart palpitations can be brief or persistent.

Other symptoms may include:

• Chest pain
• Elevated heart rate
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Low blood pressure
• Shortness of breath

Treatments

It's important to address the underlying cause of arrhythmia to treat holiday heart syndrome. A healthcare provider may recommend that you abstain from alcohol or limit your consumption. "The consensus is that once you stop consuming alcohol, holiday heart syndrome goes away," said Dr. Druz.

They can also prescribe medication to treat arrhythmia. You may require cardioversion if your condition is severe. Cardioversion uses quick, low-energy shocks to restore normal heart rhythm.

Prevention

Avoiding alcohol completely is the only surefire way to avoid holiday heart syndrome. There's no known number of drinks that lead to a holiday heart since every person's tolerance differs.

It's also important to support heart health to reduce the risk of AFib. Here are some lifestyle changes you can make:

• Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.
• Exercise for about 30 minutes per day.
• Limit alcohol if you choose to drink. Experts advise one drink per day for women and two drinks for men.
• Manage your weight.
• Reduce stress.
• Set sensible limits for what you'll eat and drink before you arrive at holiday gatherings. Limit foods high in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar.
• Stay hydrated.
• Quit smoking.

Is Holiday Heart Syndrome Dangerous?

It's a good idea to follow up with a healthcare provider if you have just a fleeting episode during the holiday season. The effects of alcoholic beverages are felt everywhere, but your heart is first to send up an alert that things have gone awry. 

AFib has been shown to cause blood clots, which increase the risk of a stroke. A stroke is a severe condition, and holiday heart symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, and heart palpitations can feel worrisome.

Err on the side of caution and seek medical attention if you have a history of heart problems. It's also important to get help if you have lingering chest pain or pressure.

A Quick Review

Binge drinking that leads to heart palpitations or arrhythmia causes holiday heart syndrome. It commonly occurs in people around the holiday season, but the phenomenon can happen to anyone who drinks heavily. Other symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath.

It's important to see a healthcare provider if you have holiday heart syndrome. AFib, which is the underlying cause, can lead to severe complications like stroke if it's untreated.