Arrhythmias and Social Drinking
Authors: Jerry C. Luck, Toby R. Engel
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1983)

Editorials1 February 1983Arrhythmias and Social DrinkingJERRY C. LUCK, M.D., TOBY R. ENGEL, M.D.JERRY C. LUCK, M.D., TOBY R. ENGEL, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-98-2-253_1 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe "holiday heart" syndrome was described a few years ago by Ettinger and associates (1), who noted paroxysms of arrhythmias in alcoholic patients without overt cardiomyopathy more often after weekend bouts of drinking and with the winter holidays. Arrhythmias are often described with overt alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Chronic or excessive exposure to ethanol is implied to be a social and not a pharmacologic problem.In this issue, Greenspon and Schaal (2) describe the electrophysiologic effects of acute ethanol ingestion (90 mL) of whiskey in 14 alcoholic patients. Only after ethanol consumption did extrastimulation induce atrial fibrillation or flutter in five patients....References1. ETTINGERWUDECRUZWEISSEAHMEDREGAN PCLCAST. Arrhythmias and the "holiday heart": alcohol-associated cardiac rhythm disorders. Am Heart J. 1978;95:555-62. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. GREENSPONSCHAAL AS. The "holiday heart": electrophysiologic studies of alcohol in alcoholics. Ann Intern Med. 1983;98:135-9. LinkGoogle Scholar3. GOULDREDDYBECKEROHKIM LCWKS. Electrophysiologic properties of alcohol in man. J Electrocardiol. 1978;11:219-26. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ENGELLUCK TJ. Effects of whiskey on atrial vulnerability and holiday hearts [Abstract]. IX World Congress of Cardiol. 1982;1:405. Google Scholar5. ENGELLUCK TJ. The effect of whiskey on atrial vulnerability and "holiday hearts." J Am Coll Cardiol. (In press). Google Scholar6. PERMAN E. The effect of ethyl alcohol on the secretion from the adrenal mudulla in man. Acta Phisiol Scand. 1958;44:241-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. JAMESBEAR TE. Effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on the heart. Am Heart J. 1967;74:243-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. WILLIAMSMIRRODAILEY EMJ. Electrophysiological effects of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and acetate on cardiac tissues from dog and guinea pig. Circulation Res. 1980;47:473-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByAlcohol-Induced Electrical Remodeling: Effects of Sustained Short-Term Ethanol Infusion on Ion Currents in Rabbit AtriumStroke and Substance AbuseTime of onset of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia in relation to alcohol consumptionCocaine-Induced Seizures, Arrhythmias and Sudden DeathAlcohol and cardiovascular diseaseIs acute alcohol ingestion a risk factor for ischemic stroke? Results of a controlled study in middle-aged and elderly stroke patients at three urban medical centers.Alcohol and stroke.Cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial ischaemia related to cocaine and alcohol consumption.Alcohol and the HeartJOHN P. SHEEHAN, M.D.Alcohol and the HeartSAMUEL ZONERAICH, M.D., MAYER BALLAS, M.D., OLGA ZONERAICH, M.D., FRED ROSNER, M.D. 1 February 1983Volume 98, Issue 2Page: 253-253KeywordsAlcoholicsArrhythmiaAtrial fibrillationCardiomyopathiesEthanolHeartIngestion Issue Published: 1 February 1983 PDF DownloadLoading ...