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Holiday Heart Syndrome

Zaiba Jetpuri, FAAFP, DO, Tasaduq Hussain Mir, FAAFP, MD and Nida Zahra, MD, FAAFP Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Holiday heart syndrome (HHS) is a relatively new term coined in 1978 by Philip Ettinger.

  • Syndrome was attributed to symptoms of acute arrhythmia, mostly atrial fibrillation (Afib) in ...

DIAGNOSIS

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

HISTORY

  • Most common symptom reported by patients is palpitations following binge drinking

  • Other associate...

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, O'Brien J, Gutman S, Ngu ...

ADDITIONAL READING

SEE ALSO

Mary G. Carey, Salah S. Al-Zaiti, Teri M. Kozik, Michele Pelter; Holiday Heart Syndrome.  Am J Crit Care 1 March 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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