‘Silent killer’ warning over Christmas and New Year as we glance methods to spot the signs

Holiday Heart Syndrome (HHS) is a condition where binge drinking during weekends and holidays can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, which are irregularities in the heartbeat

Brits are being warned about the dangers of ditching their health routines over the festive season, especially when it comes to booze. The dreaded “Holiday Heart Syndrome” (HHS) is a real scare, showing that knocking back too much alcohol during weekends and holidays can mess with your heartbeat, leading to cardiac arrhythmias.

If you’re downing at least 15 units – think seven and a half pints of beer or one and a half bottles of wine – in a day, you could be in for trouble.

This boozy-heart link was first spotted by Dr Philip Ettinger and his crew back in 1978 when they saw 24 patients hit the hospital with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) after a heavy-drinking weekend.

“Episodes usually followed heavy weekend or holiday sprees, resulting in hospitalisation between Sunday or Tuesday or in proximity to the year-end holidays, a relationship not observed in other alcohol-associated illnesses,” they reported.

A-fib is the most prevalent type of heart rhythm disorder in the UK, affecting around 1.4 million individuals.

It essentially means that the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) experience a fluttering or twitching motion (fibrillation), preventing the heart from maintaining efficient blood circulation.

Boozing isn’t the only culprit behind Holiday Heart Syndrome (HHS), with experts now warning that caffeine, fatty and salty meals, and stress can also set off the condition. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is no joke – it’s a serious issue as it could lead to blood clots in the ticker.

There are different types of AF. The NHS says to keep an eye on these signs and if they crop up, go to A&E, reports the Mirror.

Cardiologist Dr. Amir Lotfi from Baystate Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Program has a stark message: during the festive season, people often delay seeking help because they don’t want to dampen the holiday spirit, but this hesitation could lead to more severe outcomes. “All too often, people wait to decide to go to the emergency room because they don’t want to ruin the holiday for others, putting them at risk for greater consequences,” he cautions.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.