Celebrating the season to be merry with too much alcohol can put your heart health at risk.
Overindulging in alcohol can result in an irregular heartbeat, according to Wayne Leimbach, M.D., medical director of Oklahoma Heart Institute.
“Too much alcohol intake can trigger a holiday heart event,” said Leimbach. “Holiday heart attacks are heart rhythm disturbances often triggered by excessive alcohol intake. Some can be lethal, but more commonly, many can change your holiday plans to a stay at the hospital.”
Leimbach encourages individuals to keep their alcohol intake to a minimum and drink plenty of water between alcoholic beverages.
A combination of limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, managing stress, getting plenty of rest and maintaining a low salt, low cholesterol and low saturated fat diet can help protect your heart during the holidays.
“By taking care of your heart with these simple tips, everybody in the family will enjoy the holiday season and not end up visiting you in the hospital.”
Talk with your health care provider if you have any questions or are wondering how alcohol might interact with your prescription medicines. To schedule an appointment, please call 918-592-0999.
If you or someone you know is experiencing the signs of a heart attack, call 911 immediately or seek immediate medical attention.