blog #49: avoid the "holiday heart syndrome"

A holiday heart is a condition that causes irregular heartbeat in patients who are otherwise healthy individuals. Holiday heart syndrome now most commonly refers to the association between alcohol use and rhythm disturbances. 


what causes it?
stress
dehydration
alcohol-moderate amounts or binge drinking
marijuana
bing eating


symptoms?
rapid pulse
irregular heart beat
palpitations


my medical nutrition therapy professor who use to work at presbyterian hospital as a dietitian told our class that due to this condition every year the same group of people came to to hospital after the holidays (like thanksgiving and Xmas.) My professor said that many of the patients had preexisting heart conditions, and that they overeat/drank which caused palpitations so the patients were rushed to the hospital for a week of IV Lasix.