HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME (HHS) is a condition that occurs when someone consumes more than 4–10 drinks daily or engages in binge drinking. It can develop in individuals without pre-existing cardiac disease who drink continuously. Nowadays, binge drinking is increasing day by day worldwide. It is very important to understand the epidemiology, physiology, and clinical significance of this syndrome.
Holiday Heart Syndrome is also known as alcohol-induced arrhythmia. Some people drink regularly, while others drink occasionally during events such as housewarming parties, pujas, weddings, birthdays, or other occasions. Even if you do not have any history of heart disease, binge drinking can cause heart problems.
Alcohol is toxic to the heart muscle. When we consume alcohol in large quantities over a short period—common during New Year’s Eve parties or wedding seasons—it disrupts the electrical signals that regulate our heartbeat. [1]
SYMPTOMS :
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
HEART HEALTH GUIDELINES :
- Control your emotions
- Drink minimally
- Do not drink frequently
- Stay hydrated by drinking water
- Eat food instead of consuming alcohol during parties
- Do not get carried away
TREATMENT :
Patients presenting with alcohol intoxication or symptoms of alcohol withdrawal should receive supportive treatment. This may include, but is not limited to, intravenous hydration, electrolyte replacement, vitamin supplementation (especially thiamine and B-complex), and management of withdrawal symptoms using the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) protocol.[2]
Patients presenting to the emergency department with sustained tachyarrhythmias should be monitored with continuous telemetry. In most cases, observation and monitoring are sufficient.
DR. SUNDAN SIKDAR – MD,DM (GB Pant, Delhi)
REFERENCES:=
- DOCTOR WARNS: HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS CAN TRIGGER DANGEROUS HEART RHYTHM- https://supremehospitals.in/doctor-warns-holiday-celebrations-can-trigger-dangerous-heart-rhythms/
- ROLE OF FIRST AID IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE ALCOHOL INTOXICATION: A NARRATIVE REVIEW – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32965003/