Holiday season can be extremely difficult for people for several different reasons but did you know it can take a toll on your physical health as well as mental?
“Holiday heart syndrome” was a term created in 1978 to explain the dramatic influx of patients in emergency rooms during the holiday season with irregular heart rhythms known as atrial fibrillation of Afib.
Afib can be explained as a racing or out of the ordinary heartbeat that can seem like a quiver in your chest.
Afib can come with many other symptoms including shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain and lightheadedness just to name a few.
When untreated, Afib can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure.
Although having existing heart problems can make holiday heart syndrome more likely, the disease is more common with healthy individuals with no existing heart problems.
“As originally described, this heart condition was most often seen in patients without underlying heart disease,” North Carolina cardiologist said in an interview with Dr. Kevin Campbell.
It has also been reported that alcohol consumption can increase risk for holiday heart syndrome.
“The risk is even higher with more severe amounts of alcohol consumption,” electrophysiologist Dr. Marco Perez said, who is currently conducting an Apple Watch Heart trial on atrial fibrillation.
Although it is said to be very easy to put yourself at risk for holiday heart syndrome, you can also work to prevent it.
You should pay attention to the amount of alcohol you are consuming during holiday events and ensuring that you are staying hydrated.
Doctors suggest if at any point you feel any of the symptoms mentioned in the article you should get checked by a doctor.
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