New study reveals long-lasting heart risks from binge drinking

Health experts have recently emphasised the dangers of binge drinking, a habit that can lead to a range of serious health issues.

When discussing habits that cardiologists strongly advise against, many people are aware of the dangers of neglecting blood pressure, being unaware of personal heart attack risk factors, and engaging in smoking or vaping. These behaviors are well-known contributors to heart conditions and other health issues, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

However, a recent study has highlighted another concerning habit that poses a significant threat to heart health: binge drinking. The research indicates that binge drinking can trigger arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, which may persist longer than anticipated. Conducted in Germany and published in the European Heart Journal in October 2024, the study involved equipping 193 individuals with electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors prior to a planned night of heavy drinking.

The results revealed that over five percent of otherwise healthy and predominantly young participants experienced clinically significant arrhythmias, particularly during the recovery phase—a condition referred to as "holiday heart syndrome." While the dangers of binge drinking often bring to mind risks such as unsafe sexual behavior, car accidents, and liver damage, arrhythmias present a different concern, especially among typically healthy young adults.

"Alcohol disrupts the balance of the autonomic nervous system, activating the sympathetic response (adrenaline release), which can irritate the heart muscle and interfere with electrical signaling," explains Dr. Sam Setareh, MD, MS, FACC, director of clinical cardiology at Beverly Hills Cardiovascular. "This autonomic imbalance continues into the recovery phase after drinking, with a heightened risk for arrhythmias like AFib and even ventricular tachycardia, as observed in some participants." In simple terms, alcohol affects both the heart and the nervous system, potentially resulting in an irregular heartbeat.

Understanding the specifics of binge drinking is crucial. Generally, it is defined as consuming five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women within approximately two hours. In this study, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold was set at ≥1.2 g/kg, which is notably high. Addressing irregular heartbeats—regardless of age or underlying health issues—is essential. Dr. Setareh emphasizes the importance of this, particularly concerning atrial fibrillation (AFib), which involves an irregular and often rapid heartbeat, due to the increased risk of serious complications like stroke and heart failure.

By Naila Huseynova