The holidays are supposed to be festive, but for your heart’s electrical system, they can be a little chaotic. More drinks, less sleep, travel days, salty food, and stress. It’s the kind of combination that can make even a normally well-behaved heart act up. In today’s episode of In the Loop with Nadja Wlasiuk, we’re talking about holiday heart syndrome, that spike in arrhythmias, most commonly atrial fibrillation, that can show up around times of celebration, especially with heavier alcohol intake.

Joining me is one of my friends and colleagues, Dr. Albert Liu, a cardiac electrophysiologist and assistant professor at UCSF. He treats patients with heart rhythm disorders and specializes in ablations and lead extractions for devices. And he also has a focused interest in sudden cardiac death.

In this conversation, Dr. Liu breaks down what holiday heart actually is, why alcohol can trigger arrhythmias, what other holiday factors can push people towards atrial fibrillation, and practical steps that can reduce risk without turning the season into a stress test.

Dr. Liu at UCSF Health: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/albert-liu

https://ucsfhealthcardiology.ucsf.edu/people/albert-liu

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

* What Holiday Heart Syndrome is and why it’s usually associated with AFib

* How binge drinking is defined and why even “moderate” alcohol can matter for some patients

* The physiologic mechanisms: alcohol’s effects on atrial conduction, autonomic tone, and electrolytes/oxidative stress

* Other common holiday triggers: sleep deprivation, travel/time changes, stress, and high-salt foods

* A symptom framework: palpitations vs fatigue vs red flags (syncope, chest pain, dyspnea at rest)

* Practical “holiday survival” strategies: moderation, sleep consistency, medication adherence, home monitoring

* Where research is going next (e.g., triggers and predictors of recurrence; caffeine studies; lifestyle factors)

Key Takeaways

* Holiday Heart Syndrome most often refers to new-onset AFib after an episode of heavy alcohol use, often resolving when the trigger stops—but it still warrants follow-up.

* The holidays create a perfect storm: alcohol, sleep disruption, travel stress, dietary changes, and autonomic shifts can all increase arrhythmia risk.

* Not all palpitations are emergencies—but syncope, chest pressure, or significant shortness of breath at rest should prompt urgent evaluation.

Resources Mentioned

* American Heart Association News: Before you toast, know the risks of ‘holiday heart syndrome’

* American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Alcohol Use and Cardiovascular Disease

* JAMA Patient Page: Atrial Fibrillation (patient-friendly overview)

* Background reading: Holiday Heart overview (NIH/NCBI Bookshelf)

* UCSF Health News:

* Alcohol Can Cause Immediate Risk of Atrial Fibrillation

* Drink Up: Coffee Is Safe for People with A-Fib

Medical Disclaimer

This podcast is for general education and does not provide individual medical advice. If you have symptoms or concerns, please contact your clinician. If you have chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, or feel acutely unwell, seek emergency care.

Produced by: Nadja Wlasiuk, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Get full access to In the Loop with Nadja Wlasiuk at intheloopwithnadja.substack.com/subscribe