• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Experts give stark warning over 'silent killer' that can strike over Christmas and New Year

Home> News> Health

Published 17:07 22 Dec 2024 GMT

Experts give stark warning over 'silent killer' that can strike over Christmas and New Year

Our Christmas diets can have unwanted health complications

Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Health, Christmas

Brenna Cooper
Brenna Cooper

Brenna Cooper is a journalist at LADbible. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in History, followed by an NCTJ accredited masters in Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer for Digital Spy, where she wrote about all things TV, film and showbiz. Her favourite topics to cover are music, travel and any bizarre pop culture.

X

@_brencoco

Advert

Advert

Advert

Experts have shared a warning over a 'silent killer' which can occur over the Christmas and New Year period.

We are just days away from Christmas, which means that the festive season is now in full swing.

Widely considered a time to eat, drink and be merry (what else are we supposed to do when the weather outside is frightful), a lot of us will be spending the festive season enjoying copious amounts of food and alcohol.

However, health experts are urging people to be wary of over-indulging, particularly when it comes to alcohol, as it can lead to life-threatening health complications.

Advert

We all enjoy indulging as a way to fight off the winter blues (Getty Stock Images)
We all enjoy indulging as a way to fight off the winter blues (Getty Stock Images)

One particular concerning condition is known as 'holiday heart syndrome' (referred to medically as atrial fibrillation) which occurs when a person has consumed too much alcohol.

What is holiday heart syndrome?

According to the NHS, atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a condition which causes an irregular and abnormally fast heart rate. The condition occurs when the upper chambers of a person's heart aren't beating correctly.

AFib often occurs in people who suffer from other heart conditions, such as congenital heart disease, pericarditis and high blood pressure, but can also be caused by binge drinking.

Advert

Baystate Health adds that excessive amounts of caffeine and fatty meals containing salt can also contribute.

"An unusually heavy meal such as one the holidays are known for, or at any time of the year, can put additional stress on the heart as your meal is digested, and overeating and over-drinking can increase your blood pressure and heart rate," Dr. Amir Lotfi of the Heart & Vascular Program at Baystate Medical Centre explained.

However health experts are urging us to be mindful of conditions caused by overindulging (Getty Stock Images)
However health experts are urging us to be mindful of conditions caused by overindulging (Getty Stock Images)

Holiday heart syndrome typically occurs around the festive period, holidays and long weekends as patients are hesitant to seek medical treatment. If left untreated, AFib can cause blood clots in your blood circulation.

People suffering from AFib tend to report shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain.

Advert

Dr Lotfi is especially concerned by people who avoid seeking help during the festive season as they don't want to ruin the holiday.

"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 warned.

Meanwhile, guidance from the NHS adds that anyone who is experiencing chest pain which comes and goes, a sudden change to their heartbeat or a heart rate is consistently lower than 60 or above 100 to seek advice from their GP.

Choose your content:

an hour ago
10 hours ago
12 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Woman nearly died after receiving 'new type of botox' in the UK

    She spent days in intensive care

    News
  • an hour ago

    Diddy had intense reaction when mixed verdict was read out in court as rapper remains in jail

    The rapper was acquitted of three out of five charges by a New York jury

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Judge rules Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will remain behind bars as bail is denied

    The hip hop producer has been in federal detention since September 2024

    News

    breaking

  • 12 hours ago

    Met Police advice on 'sextortion' after boy, 14, dies after thinking he was flirting with woman online

    The teenager ended his life after being blackmailed over intimate images he'd sent online

    News
  • Doctor's stark warning over 'high-intensity' drinking habit as Christmas period begins
  • All the risks of a 'carnivore diet' after heart specialist issues stark warning over 'healthy' 35-year-olds having heart attacks
  • Top anal surgeon 'Dr Butthole' reveals warning sign that could lead to a scary ‘silent disease’
  • Dentist gives stark warning over mistake that can worsen disease nearly half of people suffer with