{"id":395932,"date":"2023-12-22T08:12:06","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T13:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/ease-up-on-drinking-to-cut-your-risk-for-holiday-heart-drugs-com-mednews\/"},"modified":"2023-12-25T08:21:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T13:21:06","slug":"ease-up-on-drinking-to-cut-your-risk-for-holiday-heart-drugs-com-mednews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/ease-up-on-drinking-to-cut-your-risk-for-holiday-heart-drugs-com-mednews\/","title":{"rendered":"Ease Up on Drinking to Cut Your Risk for ‘Holiday Heart’ – Drugs.com MedNews","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm<\/a>. Last updated on Dec 22, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter<\/p>\n

FRIDAY, Dec. 22, 2023 — Rum-laced eggnog, mulled wine, or a hot toddy all sound good around the holidays, but too much imbibing can increase your risk of \u201choliday heart syndrome,\u201d doctors warn.<\/p>\n

Holiday heart syndrome is the unofficial name for a notable increase in patients seeking treatment in ERs for heart rhythm problems caused by too much booze around December, said Dr. Sharon Reimold<\/a>, chair of cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s common for people to go to multiple parties during this time of year,\u201d Reimold said in a university news release. \u201cYou go to one party and have a drink or two, go to the next party and have a couple more. It\u2019s the cumulative effect of alcohol that can put you at risk, sending your heart into atrial fibrillation<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Atrial fibrillation (a-fib) involves irregular and rapid beating of the heart\u2019s upper chambers. The most common symptoms include shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, heart palpitations and rapid heartbeat.<\/p>\n

A-fib increases a person\u2019s risk of stroke<\/a> and heart failure, Reimold said.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why even though symptoms can be sporadic and usual clear up within 24 hours, they should not be ignored, she said. People experiencing heart problems should always seek medical care.<\/p>\n

Although there\u2019s a holiday-generated bump in cases around December, a-fib can occur any time too much alcohol is consumed, Reimold said. Studies have shown that a significant percentage of new a-fib cases are linked to boozing it up.<\/p>\n

Too much food, particularly salty foods, can also increase risk of a-fib.<\/p>\n

Folks should pay attention to how much they\u2019re drinking and eating during holiday festivities, and practice moderation, Reimold said.<\/p>\n

Guidelines for moderate alcohol consumption call for no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. A drink is defined as 8 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits.<\/p>\n

Party hosts should offer non-alcoholic beers or wines, or \u201cmocktails\u201d that contain non-alcoholic spirits, Reimold added.<\/p>\n

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Sources<\/h2>\n