Data shows more people die from heart attacks between Christmas and New Year's Day than any other period throughout the year, in part because of the impact binge drinking alcohol can have on the heart — a phenomenon called "holiday heart syndrome," Dani Blum reports for the New York Times' "Well."

How holiday drinking can hurt your heart

The term holiday heart syndrome was developed in the 1970s by doctors who noticed that otherwise healthy patients were frequently visiting the ED with atrial fibrillation (A-fib), a heart condition characterized by a "rapid, chaotic heart rhythm," after drinking during holiday festivities, Blum reports.

"We drink and eat so much more and exercise and relax so much less than really any other time of the year," said Nicholas Ruthmann, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

According to Gregory Marcus, a professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, A-fib is one of the most common cardiac conditions. Many people who have A-fib won't present any symptoms, according to Hugh Calkins, a professor of cardiology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, and those with symptoms may experience fluttering or pounding heart palpitations, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Others may have extreme fatigue or pass out. For some patients, A-fib shows up in brief spells, but in others, it can be a permanent condition.

Calkins added that it's important to watch out for symptoms of A-fib, because the condition can increase your risk of stroke and has been linked to dementia and heart failure.

According to Calkins, a person's risk of developing A-fib goes up with age—once a person turns 80, their risk of A-fib is around 10%. Other factors can increase a person's risk of developing A-fib as well, including being tall, having obesity, or having a family history of the condition, Calkins said.

As for how alcohol affects the heart, doctors are still working to understand that, with one working theory suggesting alcohol induces alterations into a person's nervous system, which typically regulates heart rate, Marcus said. Excessive alcohol could change the electric signals within a person's heart, which coordinate the contraction of cardiac cells.

Over the last decade, researchers have bolstered the connection between alcohol and A-fib, Blum reports. One study found that just one drink a day can increase a person's A-fib risk by 16%. However, that increased risk may not be enough for the average person to change their behavior.

"If on a given day, the chance of you having A-fib tomorrow is one in 1,000—if you have a glass of beer or wine tonight, maybe it's three in 1,000," Calkins said. However, people of all ages should still be aware of the warning signs, he added.

During the holiday season, people tend to ignore symptoms and wait until the new year to see a doctor, Ruthmann said, but it's important to receive care if you have a persistent racing heartbeat and chest pain, or if you're having trouble breathing. Dizziness and feeling lightheaded or confused could also be symptoms of a cardiac problem. "Every second counts when it comes to the heart," Ruthmann said.

4 ways to protect your heart

Limiting alcohol consumption can help protect your heart, but if you choose to drink, there are other ways to keep your heart healthy, Blum reports:

1. Stay hydrated. According to Ruthmann, if you're drinking, make sure to have a full glass of water between drinks. Dehydration increases your risk of developing holiday heart syndrome, Kristen Brown, a cardiovascular fellow at the University of Nebraska Medical Center said, so make sure you stay hydrated.
2. Don't skip your medication. It's easy to forget heart or blood pressure medication when traveling for the holidays, but it's important to remain on schedule, Ruthmann said.
3. Exercise. A moderate amount of exercise could help protect you against A-fib, Blum reports. If you can't regularly exercise over the holidays, even a walk can help.
4. Manage your stress. Stress can have a significant impact on your risk of having a cardiac event, Ruthmann said. If you become stressed, try to take a second to breathe or try a grounding exercise, Blum reports. As stressful as the holidays can be, Ruthmann said it's important to listen to your body and pay attention to anything that feels "off," because a "merry Christmas can turn into a scary Christmas fast." (Blum, "Well," New York Times, 12/1)