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Do you overdo it during the holidays? I guess we all do to a certain extent, because of overeating or over-stressing. But over-drinking -- alcohol, that is -- can do more than give you a headache. It can perhaps signal a more dangerous, or at best scary, cardiac event. Cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic warn that even those with no history of heart disease are at risk for "holiday heart syndrome" after just one night of heavy drinking.
If you do overdo it on occasion and then have an episode of atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation -- described as "a rapid heart-beating that originates from the upper chambers of the heart" -- you might be experiencing "holiday heart syndrome."
What do you do if you get this feeling? If you've never experienced it before and it lasts longer than five minutes, you should see a doctor. (Make sure someone else takes the wheel in case what you're experiencing is more serious.) But if you have experienced this feeling before and you know it gradually dissipates, you might be safe to wait it out.
So what can you do to avoid holiday heart syndrome?
Limit alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per night for men, one for women.
Keep consumption of high-fat and high-sodium foods to a minimum.
Maintain your usual exercise routine as much as possible.
Have you ever experienced "holiday heart syndrome?" Please share here.
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