Holiday heart syndrome actually refers to a heart condition where there is a disturbance in heart rhythm, and the cause is excessive alcohol consumption. This disorder commonly occurs during holidays. It serves as evidence that excessiveness is not good. Your body needs rest, and it also needs healthy food!

Symptoms

The main symptom of holiday heart syndrome is a rapid and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). In simpler terms, if you start feeling a fast or pounding heartbeat when consuming alcohol, it's a sign that the consumption should be stopped. While this condition may not necessarily be dangerous, it shouldn't be underestimated. Some symptoms to watch out for include:

• Dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Decreased consciousness

If you experience these symptoms while drinking alcohol, seek help immediately. This is because heart arrhythmias can lead to other conditions such as heart failure, stroke, or heart attack. Again, even though holiday heart syndrome is not the most serious case, seek professional help if you feel something is not right.

Causes

The exact mechanism of why alcohol affects the heart in holiday heart syndrome is not precisely known. However, alcohol is a major associated factor. Alcohol can affect the contraction of heart muscles, potentially causing arrhythmias. Additionally, heart-related diseases can be triggered or exacerbated by:

• Stress related to finances, New Year's open house preparations, or gift exchanges.
• Eating patterns, such as overeating, high sugar, high-fat, and high-salt diets, as well as insufficient water intake.

On the other hand, some factors also increase the risk of holiday heart syndrome, such as a history of heart disease, heart attack, heart surgery, high blood pressure, lung disease, smoking, diabetes, sleep apnea, and stimulant use.

Let's cherish our hearts, consume healthy food, and avoid excessive alcohol!

Diagnosis

Since the exact mechanism of why someone experiences holiday heart syndrome is unknown, doctors generally first examine the symptoms, health history, and physical examination. Additionally, to obtain an accurate diagnosis, doctors may conduct other tests to rule out the possibility of other cardiovascular conditions. Some of these tests include:

• Complete blood count: evaluates blood components for overall health assessment
• Comprehensive metabolic panel: checks the body's chemical balance and energy usage
• Liver function tests: assesses how well the liver is functioning
• Blood or urine alcohol tests: checks for the presence of alcohol in the body
• Cardiac troponin test: examines the presence of troponin protein (usually released after heart damage)
• Other tests: EKG, chest X-ray, echocardiogram

Treatment

The treatment depends on the type of heart arrhythmia that occurs. One approach is the administration of quick and low-energy shocks to the heart to stabilize its rhythm. However, holiday heart syndrome is reversible and can improve. The method is to stop or reduce alcohol consumption.

If you feel something is wrong with your heartbeat, seek medical attention immediately.

So, for those who want to spend time drinking with family or close relatives, don't forget to pay attention to the amount consumed. Don't overdo it, and it's better to stop when your heart feels irregular. Remind everyone around you!

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