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Holiday Heart Syndrome

Tasaduq Hussain Mir, FAAFP, MD and Afsha Rais Kaisani, FAAFP, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Holiday heart syndrome (HHS) is a well established diagnosis in medical literature. Term was first coined in 1978 by Philip Ettinger.

  • Syndrome is attributed to symptoms of cardiac arr...

DIAGNOSIS

Not specific to HHS. CBC might show macrocytic anemia and CMP might show transaminitis. 

HISTORY

  • It is important to gather a detailed history of the patient's alcohol use including when the pa...

TREATMENT

  • Since alcohol has a definite role in cardiac arrhythmia, patients should be encouraged to stop alcohol use.

  • Interprofessional teams are necessary for enhancing and improving healthcare outcom...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Make sure patients remain sober. 

Patient Monitoring

Consider transferring patient to ICU if seizure develops. 

DIET

Regular 

PATIENT EDUCATION

Encourage patients to st...

REFERENCES

1
Tonelo D, Providência R, Gonçalves L. Holiday heart syndrome revisited after 34 years. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2013;101(2):183-189.
2
Voskoboinik A, McDonald C, Chieng D, et al. Acute electrical, ...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

Carey MG, Al-Zaiti SS, Kozik TM, et al. Holiday Heart Syndrome.  Am J Crit Care. 2014;23(2):171-172.  

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • HHS occurs in previously healthy people without heart disease.

  • Prevention of the disease requires avoidance of excessive alcohol use.

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