Understanding the Connection Between Diabetes and Heart Disease
Diabetes and heart disease are often intertwined: If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk for heart disease. Explore the reasons for this connection here.
Holiday Heart Syndrome: What You Need to Know
Approaching the holidays, you may be planning lavish meals, fun parties, and family get-togethers, but what happens after these events likely isn’t in the forefront of your mind. If you’ve never heard of holiday heart syndrome, now is the perfect time to learn and prepare.
Board-certified internist and cardiologist Jeffrey H. Graf, MD, can help you get ready for a heart-healthy holiday season with a physical exam at his office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City.
Before the festivities begin, learn about holiday heart syndrome and how it can affect you or your loved ones.
Understanding holiday heart syndrome
For anyone who drinks alcohol, the holidays can be a time when you drink a little more than usual. Holiday heart syndrome is cardiac arrhythmias that appear after overindulgence in alcohol.
The condition typically starts 12-36 hours after you drink a lot and is most common in young adults. Notably, heavy drinking is a factor in 35%-62% of emergency room visits for atrial fibrillation (AFib).
You could be at risk for holiday heart syndrome even if you only drink on occasion. Eating a lot of salty foods and drinking a lot of caffeinated beverages can also overload your heart and contribute to the condition.
It’s important to be aware of holiday heart syndrome so you can recognize it when it happens.
Signs that you might have holiday heart syndrome
The signs of atrial fibrillation can catch you off guard if it’s not something you usually experience.
Many people would describe AFib as having a racing heart, heart palpitations, or feeling like your heart is beating out of your chest. You might also feel short of breath, very fatigued, or like your heartbeat is irregular.
Even if you’ve experienced these sensations before, you shouldn’t ignore them. Atrial fibrillation can lead to blood clots in your heart that could cause a stroke.
What to do if you notice symptoms
Because atrial fibrillation can become serious, it’s important to seek medical attention if you notice troubling cardiovascular symptoms. When you get medical help, your provider may need to monitor you for some time, and they might also recommend intravenous hydration.
You can regulate your heart by getting plenty of electrolytes and vitamins the next day. Most people’s hearts go back to normal within 24 hours after their symptoms start.
To prevent holiday heart syndrome, the best thing you can do is to drink in moderation or avoid drinking altogether around the holidays.
Get in touch
Are you concerned about your cardiovascular health? If you want to check in on your heart health before the holidays, call the office of Jeffrey H. Graf, MD, to schedule an appointment today.
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