Beware of a 'holiday heart' from alcohol, stress and snacks, cardiologist warns

For most people, a holiday is a time to loosen the reins. The booze flows freely and healthy food is exchanged for fatty snacks. Letting yourself go a little is fine, but beware of a 'holiday heart', warns cardiologist Menno Baars.

The so-called holiday heart syndrome, from the English holiday heart syndrome, is a condition in which you get heart rhythm disorders. It often occurs on holiday, but that is not necessarily the case. In principle, it can always happen if you go a little further than normal. Baars, cardiologist at the HartKliniek, also saw it during the corona period, during holidays and New Year's Eve.

A 'holiday heart' has multiple causes. For example, the syndrome is related to stress. "Stress around the holiday rush is common. A holiday is exciting, you have to organize everything and you may be afraid that you are not doing it right," Baars explains to Metro .

Alcohol is the biggest culprit, and binge drinking in particular. “You are not used to drinking alcohol every day and suddenly you go wild and drink relatively much for your own sake. For one person that can be the case with four glasses of beer and for another with twenty glasses of beer, it depends on what you are used to.”

Caffeine is a good second 'culprit' for the syndrome, and food also plays a role. "You often eat something fatty with it when you drink alcohol. A French fry, a bitterbal and then a fried egg in the evening. In short: a nice party."

That party is not without risks, warns Baars, because you can get heart rhythm disorders. There are about thirty different types of rhythm disorders, but the one that occurs most often in the holiday heart syndrome is so-called 'atrial fibrillation'. That is also popularly called atrial turbulence.

Baars: "This causes the heart rhythm to go haywire and an electrical impulse rushes through both atria of the heart at high speed. This happens at a frequency of three hundred beats per minute. Fortunately, this lightning-fast frequency is slowed down on its way to both ventricles, which means that the average heart rate on your wrist at rest is around seventy beats per minute, but often still 150 to 200 with a little exertion. Such a high heart rate can make us feel really sick."

According to Baars, holiday heart syndrome is accompanied by, among other things, a rapid and irregular pulse, a nervous and unpleasant feeling on the chest, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and dizziness. That feeling can last ten seconds, but also hours.

"But some people feel very little of it," says the cardiologist. "If you otherwise have a healthy body and life, are athletic and do a lot of sports, and are in the middle of life, then it can be that you have it without noticing. That is annoying, because then you have no warning at all."

The syndrome does not discriminate. It can happen to both young and old people. "That is also a real danger, because young people are often not on their guard. They think they are immortal. In that group it also often happens that, 'very cool', a lot is drunk."

One heart is more sensitive to it than another heart. "We don't know the details of that yet. People who are less able to let go of stress are probably more sensitive to it."

Not everyone realizes that he or she is suffering from a 'holiday heart'. And what makes it even more difficult: the arrhythmia often occurs later. "So not so much on the evening when you are having a good time. There is a lot of drinking, it is very cozy and otherwise there is nothing wrong. But the next day when you wake up, and for some people even later, the arrhythmia can occur."

He continues: "That's treacherous, because you can't directly relate it to what you did the night before. Where did it come from? After all, we could be 24 hours further."

How dangerous is it, such a 'holiday heart'? Baars: "You can pass out from it. That is dangerous if you are behind the wheel or standing on a cliff to take a nice picture. But the condition itself is not immediately fatal. You will not die from it the first time."

It is especially important to be careful if you suffer from it more often. "Then it can lead to clotting in your heart, blood clots, all kinds of misery." Ultimately, if you have it very often, it can lead to heart failure.

So it can be the beginning of a “cascade of misery.” “It can gradually become a major problem if you don’t stop drinking alcohol. Then it can become life-threatening.”

At some point, the holiday syndrome can even occur spontaneously, without you drinking alcohol. “Your heart gets used to it and becomes more sensitive. The atrium of the heart becomes larger and wider, and then an electrical impulse can more easily get lost and bounce around.”

He continues: "In young people and people who have never had anything wrong with their heart, the atria are small. But every time such an arrhythmia occurs, a lot of pressure is put on the heart on the inside and then it pushes itself bigger and bigger, as it were."

If you think you are suffering from a holiday heart, it is important to remain calm. "Take a look at it, because it usually goes away by itself. Drink a lot of water and avoid stress."

You don't have to call 112 right away, but going to the GP can't hurt. According to Baars, it's good to at least register it. "Then the diagnosis can be made. Forewarned is forearmed."

If it happens again, you should definitely see a doctor, according to the cardiologist. "And think three times before drinking alcohol."

How to prevent a holiday heart may seem obvious. Avoid alcohol, fatty foods and stress as much as possible. But Baars understands that you want to live a bit more relaxed than usual on holiday. "A moment of relaxation is fine, you've worked hard. But I always advise: if you drink something, drink a glass of water afterwards. Of course, you still have to be careful not to knock back twenty beers. But if you have a glass of water in between, you'll also be less inclined to drink a lot."

It’s “easier said than done,” but avoid stress as much as possible. “Just try to really relax. Let life come over you and come to you.”

Finally, pay a little attention to your eating habits, he advises. “Just try to eat normally, even on holiday. Just eat at home or go to good restaurants, and don’t just eat snacks.”

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