Many office workers wind down after overtime with a can of beer. But cardiologists are increasingly warning against habitual drinking to relieve stress. Alcohol may feel calming in the moment, they say, yet it places a cumulative burden on the cardiovascular system.
Heather Shenkman, a U.S. cardiologist, and Adedapo Iluyomade, a preventive cardiologist, recently warned about the risks of stress drinking, according to medical sources on the 23rd. Drinking raises blood pressure and increases the likelihood of arrhythmia at the same time, they said.
The warning rests on data. In research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 70th Annual Scientific Session in May 2021, a single glass of wine or beer roughly doubled the chance of atrial fibrillation within the following four hours. Two or more drinks in one sitting pushed the odds above threefold. The findings came from a research team led by Gregory Marcus, a cardiology professor at the University of California, San Francisco, which attached alcohol-detecting sensors to participants' ankles.
Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia in which the heart beats irregularly, accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness and a sharp rise in heart rate. Iluyomade identified atrial fibrillation as the most common problem seen after heavy drinking over a short period. It can occur even in people who have never been diagnosed with heart disease, he added.
Doctors use the term "holiday heart syndrome" for cases in which atrial fibrillation appears suddenly in otherwise healthy people after binge drinking around year-end holidays. Data from the University of Arizona's heart research center show that each additional daily drink raised the incidence of atrial fibrillation by 8%.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy, in which the heart muscle weakens, is another risk that cannot be overlooked. Iluyomade said repeated binge drinking after stress can impair heart muscle function and lead to heart failure. Substances produced as alcohol is metabolized increase oxidative stress and damage heart cells, he said. As a result, the heart's pumping function itself can deteriorate.
Contrary to the common belief that alcohol helps people sleep, it actually worsens sleep quality. After drinking, heart rate rises during sleep and total sleep time falls. Insufficient sleep adds to fatigue and stress the next day, feeding a cycle that leads back to alcohol.
Specialists recommend releasing after-work stress through breathing exercises or physical activity rather than alcohol. Shenkman suggested activities that engage both body and mind, such as yoga, along with adequate sleep and a balanced diet. Anyone whose stress, anxiety or depression persists is better off seeking professional counseling.
