Numerous individuals view the festive period as a chance to relax their healthy routines, particularly when it comes to drinking alcohol - but the repercussions can be severe.
The phrase "holiday heart syndrome" (HHS) describes how episodes of excessive drinking - typically during weekends and celebrations - can trigger cardiac arrhythmias, or irregularities in the heart's beat. It usually occurs following periods of heavy consumption involving at least 15 units (roughly seven and a half pints of 4% beer or one and a half bottles of 13% wine) within a 24-hour timeframe.
This link between extreme alcohol consumption and heart malfunction was first identified by a research team headed by Dr Philip Ettinger in 1978, who documented 24 patients being admitted to hospital with atrial fibrillation (commonly known as A-fib) following a weekend of binge drinking.
"Episodes usually followed heavy weekend or holiday sprees, resulting in hospitalisation between Sunday or Tuesday or in proximity to the year-end holidays, a relationship not observed in other alcohol-associated illnesses," the study authors noted. A-fib represents the most prevalent heart rhythm disorder in the UK, impacting approximately 1.4 million individuals.
Essentially, it means the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) are susceptible to trembling or twitching (fibrillation) in such a way that the crucial organ struggles to maintain adequate blood circulation. But alcohol consumption isn't the sole culprit.
We now understand that HHS can also be triggered by additional factors, including caffeine intake, excessive consumption of high-fat, high-sodium meals, and psychological stress. AF is deemed severe as it may result in blood clots forming within the heart.
Various forms of atrial fibrillation include:
The NHS states that atrial fibrillation can sometimes be asymptomatic, which means the individual remains oblivious to their irregular heartbeat. Nevertheless, those experiencing symptoms are likely to encounter:.
HHS symptoms typically persist for 24 hours - known as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - yet recognising the warning indicators of cardiac issues and obtaining prompt medical care when required remains crucial. Attend A&E if:. Heart specialist Dr. Amir Lotfi from the Heart and Vascular Program at Baystate Medical Center cautions that individuals frequently postpone seeking medical advice simply due to the holiday period.
"All too often, people wait to decide to go to the emergency room because they don't want to ruin the holiday for others, putting them at risk for greater consequences," he said.