It’s the time for Christmas parties at work and get-togethers with family and friends. You might drink too much at once.
Then you might feel your heart beating fast or not regularly. You might feel a flutter in your chest or neck, or feel dizzy or out of breath. This might worry you enough to go to the hospital.
After a few tests, the doctors might tell you that you have “alcohol-induced atrial arrhythmia”. In simple words, it’s an irregular heartbeat caused by drinking too much alcohol in a short time.
What is holiday heart?
During the holiday season, more people go to the hospital with alcohol-related problems and irregular heartbeats.
People often have fast or irregular heartbeats because of binge drinking, overeating, dehydration, and increased stress during the holidays.
What causes it? How is it diagnosed?
Alcohol affects your heart, blood vessels, blood, and nervous system in different ways.
If you have symptoms, go to the hospital or see your doctor. They will do some tests to find out if you have heart rhythm problems.
Why are we concerned about it?
Many people with holiday heart can get better, especially if they stop drinking or limit their alcohol intake. But some may develop atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder in adults.
How can you prevent it?
Avoid binge drinking and follow the Australian guidelines for alcohol consumption. Drink water between alcoholic drinks, reduce stress, exercise, and eat a healthy diet to take care of your heart.
Vocabulary List:
- Arrhythmia /əˈrɪð.mi.ə/ (noun): A condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm.
- Binge /bɪndʒ/ (verb): To indulge in an excessive quantity of something especially alcohol.
- Symptoms /ˈsɪmptəmz/ (noun): Signs or indications of a condition or disease.
- Dehydration /ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪʃən/ (noun): A condition that results from excessive loss of body water.
- Consumption /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ (noun): The act of drinking or eating something often referring to food or beverages.
- Diagnosis /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsɪs/ (noun): The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem.
How much do you know?
