Holiday heart syndrome

Holiday heart syndrome is an irregular heartbeat pattern presented in individuals who are otherwise healthy. Coined in 1978^[1] the term is defined as "abnormal heart rhythms sometimes following excessive alcohol consumption; usually temporary".^[2]

Holiday heart syndrome can be the result of stress, dehydration, and drinking alcohol. It is sometimes associated with binge drinking common during the holiday season. The condition can also occur when individuals consume only moderate amounts of alcohol.^{[citation needed]}

Irregular heartbeats can be serious. If palpitations continue for longer than a few hours patients should seek medical attention. Some abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) associated with Holiday heart syndrome after binge drinking can lead to sudden death, which may explain some of the sudden death cases commonly reported in alcoholics. Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in holiday heart syndrome. Symptoms usually resolve themselves within 24 hours.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

Further reading[]

• Tonelo, David; Providência, Rui; Gonçalves, Lino (2013). "Holiday Heart Syndrome Revisited after 34 Years". Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia. 101 (2): 183–189. doi:10.5935/abc.20130153. PMC 3998158. PMID 24030078.
• Holiday Heart Syndrome at eMedicine
• Menz V, Grimm W, Hoffmann J, Maisch B (August 1996). "Alcohol and rhythm disturbance: the holiday heart syndrome". Herz. 21 (4): 227–31. PMID 8805002.
• Alboni P, Gianfranchi L, Pacchioni F, Pedaci M (March 2005). "Antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation: where are we?". Ital Heart J. 6 (3): 169–74. PMID 15875505.

External links[]