Heart Syndrome On Vacation
Heart syndrome on vacation causes palpitations, a feeling of suffocation and dizziness. Find out what produces it and how.
Now that Christmas and the end of the year are approaching, the number of celebrations and binges is also increasing, both with food and drink. Hence, heart syndrome takes center stage again on vacation.
This syndrome is a pathology that was described relatively recently, in 1978. It consists of an alteration of cardiac function that is related to large alcohol intakes in a short time.
Heart syndrome was first diagnosed on vacation at this time of year. However, many cases have been seen in summer, especially in young people who did not have any previous heart disease.
This syndrome is estimated to cause a large percentage of cardiac arrhythmias. In fact, Christmas Day has been shown to be the day with the most deaths from heart failure per year. Therefore, in this article we explain everything you need to know about heart syndrome on vacation.
What is heart syndrome on vacation?
As we well know, the heart is one of the most important organs in our body. It is responsible for pumping the blood so that it reaches all parts of our body and the cells get the oxygen they need to live.
For this to happen, the heart beats rhythmically and continuously. The fact that there is a constant rhythm allows the chambers of the heart to fill correctly with blood. The blood is then propelled with the appropriate force.
What happens in holiday heart syndrome is that an arrhythmia occurs. It is generally generated in one of the atria, which are the upper chambers of the heart. The rate increases, and more beats are produced per minute.
The cause of this syndrome is the intake of alcohol in large quantities and in a short time. For example, on specific holidays such as Christmas or New Year’s Day. These are days when people tend to drink a lot more than necessary.
In addition, the heart of vacation affects young and healthy people. The exact mechanism by which alcohol produces this response is not known. It seems that, related to the festive environment, it releases adrenaline and norepinephrine that accelerate the heart rate.
What are the heart symptoms on vacation?
As we’ve already mentioned, heart syndrome on vacation can affect anyone. However, it is more related to young, healthy people without any previous heart disease.
As it is an arrhythmia, the most frequent symptom is palpitations. There is a feeling that the heart is beating stronger and faster than normal. In turn, it can be accompanied by chest pain and shortness of breath.
It is common for people who suffer from it to get dizzy, which can lead to a fall or fainting. Most of the symptoms disappear once our body has been able to metabolize all the alcohol that has been ingested.
However, even if it is a very specific patient pattern and there is the possibility that the symptoms are temporary , it is necessary to medically observe the person who suffers from it. Arrhythmias can sometimes be life-threatening.
Can this situation be avoided?
Vacation heart syndrome only appears if there has been an excessive intake of alcohol in a short time. Therefore, the first measure to avoid it is not to consume alcohol. In the case of doing so, it is important to be aware and proceed to a moderate consumption.
It is vital to inform young people of the existence of this syndrome. Many of them are unaware of the toxicity of alcohol and the very negative effects it can have. In addition, they link heart disease to being older.
On the other hand, it should be noted that these excesses of alcohol tend to occur in plans such as barbecues, dinners or meals, in which many amounts of food are also ingested. These foods are usually sweet or high-fat foods.
This type of diet already causes an overexertion to our heart. For this reason, especially in summer, we must monitor not only the alcohol we drink, but also our diet. And, of course, avoid any other type of drug.
