Cardiologists Are Begging People to Stop This Common Habit ASAP

When it comes to the habits that cardiologists want people to never, ever do, you might have read about not taking your blood pressure seriously, not knowing your specific risk factors for heart attacks and smoking and vaping. These behaviors can (obviously) lead to heart conditions and other health complications.

Related: This Is the Worst Habit for Heart Health, According to Cardiologists

According to a recent study's findings, however, there's another habit that's dangerous for your heart health—and it's pretty alarming, because it's a habit that's really common.

Cardiologists Are Begging People to Stop This Common Habit ASAP

That habit is binge drinking.

The new study shows that binge drinking can lead to arrhythmias, or an irregular heartbeat, and that those arrhythmias may last even longer than expected.

The study, carried out in Germany and published in the European Heart Journal in October 2024, gave electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors to 193 people ahead of a planned night of heavy drinking. At the end, it found clinically relevant arrhythmias in over five percent of participants that were otherwise healthy—and even young—primarily in the recovery phase. This condition is called "holiday heart syndrome."

?? SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week ??

How Binge Drinking Can Cause Arrhythmias

When you picture the dangers of binge drinking, you may imagine unsafe sexual behaviors, car accidents and liver problems. How do arrhythmias fit in here—especially for typically healthy young adults?

Related: What Is the BORG Binge Drinking Trend on TikTok? Here’s What Parents Should Know

"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, the 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 short, basic terms, alcohol messes with the heart and nervous system, which can lead to an irregular heartbeat.

With that said, it’s helpful to know the parameters of binge drinking. That typically means five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women within about two hours. In the study, the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold was set at ≥1.2 g/kg, which is really high.

Why Arrhythmias Are So Serious

Attending to an irregular heartbeat—regardless of age and other medical conditions—is vital. Dr. Setareh says this is important especially in the case of atrial fibrillation (AFib), or an irregular, very rapid heart rate, because of the heightened risk of serious complications, such as stroke and heart failure.

Plus, the more often arrhythmias happen, the more dangerous they can be. "With repeated episodes, arrhythmias can lead to structural heart changes, increasing the long-term risk for cardiovascular events," he adds.

Related: AFib Is the Most Common Type of Heart Condition—Here’s How To Know if You Have It, and What To Do

What To Do if You Notice the Signs of an Arrhythmia

Dr. Setareh says arrhythmia symptoms include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain and dizziness. The American Heart Association adds fatigue or weakness, fainting, shortness of breath, an alternating fast-and-slow heart rate, sweating and more.

If you notice these signs, Dr. Setareh urges you to get an immediate medical evaluation—even if they don't seem "that bad" at the moment. "Arrhythmias triggered by alcohol consumption can escalate, particularly in the hours or days after a binge episode, when the body is in a heightened ‘recovery’ state and susceptible to further cardiac events," he says.

Your best bet, though, is to prevent that worry from ever becoming relevant. So, the next time you go out drinking during the day or at night, consider drinking less or at least drinking more slowly. Your heart will love you for it.

Up Next:

Related: This Heart Attack Condition Is 3 Times More Common Than We Thought, Study Finds

Sources

• Dr. Sam Setareh, MD, MS, FACC, a cardiologist

• Acute alcohol consumption and arrhythmias in young adults: the MunichBREW II study, European Heart Journal

• Atrial fibrillation, Mayo Clinic

• Symptoms, Diagnosis and Monitoring of Arrhythmia, American Heart Association