Orlando doctor explains ‘holiday heart syndrome,’ how to stay healthy
Dr. Tywaun Tillman, a cardiologist from Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health, discusses the drastic increases in heart-related ER visits tied to stress, alcohol, overindulgence and disrupted sleep.
HERE IS THE REMINDER FOR YOU. THAT ACTUALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE THIS MORNING. CHRISTMAS IS JUST ABOUT 15 DAYS AWAY NOW. AROUND THIS TIME EACH YEAR, DATA SHOWS THAT HOSPITALS START SEEING A NOTICEABLE SPIKE IN HEART EMERGENCIES. THIS IMPACTS PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT THINK THAT THEY’RE AT RISK, AND THE EARLY SYMPTOMS OFTEN GET BRUSHED OFF AS HOLIDAY STRESS OR JUST EXHAUSTION FROM EVERYTHING HAPPENING AROUND THE SEASON. WE HAVE ORLANDO HEALTH CARDIOLOGIST DOCTOR TAIWAN TILLMAN JOINING US NOW. WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE SURE WE STAY HEALTHY THIS SEASON. DOCTOR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING SANIKA. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY. WE’RE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT THAT IS AND AND WHY THE HOLIDAY STATISTICALLY REMAIN THE MOST DANGEROUS TIME OF THE YEAR FOR OUR HEART HEALTH? WELL, HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME SPECIFICALLY, IS THE SUDDEN ONSET OF ABNORMAL HEART RHYTHMS THAT OCCURS MOST OFTEN DURING THE HOLIDAYS. THE TYPICAL RHYTHM THAT WE SEE MOST OFTEN IS EITHER ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OR ATRIAL FLUTTER, AND THAT IS A HEART RHYTHM THAT TENDS TO PRESENT WITH SYMPTOMS OF RAPID HEART RATE, MAYBE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, MAYBE CHEST DISCOMFORT. BUT IT’S MOST OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING THE HOLIDAYS. SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS, YOU TRAVEL, YOU VISIT FAMILY AND FRIENDS. YOU MAY DRINK A LITTLE BIT MORE ALCOHOL THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD. YOU EAT THINGS THAT YOU DON’T NORMALLY EAT DURING YOUR REGULAR DAILY LIFE, AND THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT CAN ADD A LITTLE UNDUE STRESS ON THE BODY. IN ADDITION TO THAT, DISTURBANCES OF SLEEP PATTERNS, DISTURBANCES IN YOUR REGULAR EXERCISE ACTIVITY. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE A LITTLE EXCESSIVE STRESS ON YOUR BODY THAT CAN LEAD TO THIS HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME. IT ALSO LEADS TO OTHER INCREASED CARDIAC RELATED ILLNESSES, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, AND SO FORTH. SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE OFTEN SEE DURING THE HOLIDAYS. NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS THAT PATIENTS MAY GET, THE MOST COMMON UNDERLYING WITH HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME IS THE ALCOHOL INTAKE. AND ALCOHOL INTAKE IS SOMETHING THAT MOST OFTEN, IF YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH PEOPLE DRINK DURING THE HOLIDAYS, IF YOU. YOU WANT TO TRY AND DECREASE THE AMOUNT THAT YOU’RE DRINKING. SO FOR EXAMPLE, 2 TO 4 DRINKS DURING THE HOLIDAYS IS A BIT MUCH AND A TWO HOUR PERIOD. SO YOU WANT TO BE LESS THAN THAT. YOU ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE DRINKING, THAT YOU’RE DRINKING LESS THAN. I MEAN, IF YOU’RE DRINKING LESS THAN THAT, THAT YOU’RE ALSO DRINKING WATER OR SOME OTHER NONALCOHOLIC DRINK DURING THAT TWO HOUR PERIOD. YEAH. MAKES A LOT OF SENSE THERE. SO LESS THAN 2 TO 4 DRINKS. WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS, AS YOU MENTIONED ARE SHORTNESS OF BREATH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WARNING SIGNS THAT MAYBE AREN’T AS OBVIOUS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT IGNORE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? WELL, WHILE THERE ARE NO SPECIFIC WARNING SIGNS SPECIFICALLY FOR HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE AT MORE RISK, AND THOSE ARE OFTEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS. SO PEOPLE THAT ARE AT RISK FOR HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME ARE PATIENTS THAT HAVE HYPERTENSION. PATIENTS THAT ARE OBESE OR PATIENTS THAT MAY BE MAY HAVE UNDERLYING SLEEP APNEA. THOSE ARE PATIENTS THAT ARE AT VERY HIGH RISK FOR DEVELOPING HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME. AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THAT RISK IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE EATING HEALTHY, MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE NOT EATING EXCESSIVELY SALTY MEALS, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY’RE NOT DRINKING EXCESSIVELY. SO PLAN TO DRINK LESS, PLAN TO EAT HEALTHIER, OR EVEN EAT A HEALTHY MEAL BEFORE YOU GO TO YOUR HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS. OKAY, SO THAT DOES LEAD ME TO MY NEXT QUESTION HERE, BECAUSE WE KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE TO HOST HOLIDAY GATHERINGS A LOT OF TIME. THE SPREAD INCLUDES COOKIES AND OTHER SALTY ITEMS AND FOODS THAT YOU’RE SAYING ARE RISK FACTORS HERE. SO IF YOU ARE HOSTING, HOW CAN YOU HELP SUPPORT YOUR GUESTS HEART HEALTH? WELL, I THINK THE HOST CAN DO JUST AS MUCH AS THE INDIVIDUALS CAN FOR DECREASING THEIR RISK OF CARDIAC RELATED ILLNESSES DURING DURING THE HOLIDAYS. AND THAT GOES ONCE AGAIN BACK TO PLANNING. SO WHEN YOU’RE PLANNING THESE HOLIDAYS, WHAT KIND OF MEALS ARE YOU GOING TO TO SERVE YOUR GUESTS? HOW MUCH ALCOHOL ARE YOU GOING TO SERVE YOUR GUESTS? YOU WANT TO HAVE MULTIPLE HEALTHY OPTIONS NOT ONLY THINGS TO DRINK, BUT THINGS TO EAT. BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS, YOU KNOW, IS IT THE ALCOHOL, BUT IT’S ALSO SALTY AND RICH FOODS THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE. AND THE ONE OTHER THING THAT I SHOULD NOT FORGET TO MENTION IS CAFFEINE INTAKE. A LOT OF TIMES THERE’S A LOT MORE COFFEE DURING THE HOLIDAYS, A LOT NOWADAYS PEOPLE ARE DRINKING A LOT MORE ENERGY DRINKS, AND SOMETIMES ENERGY DRINKS ARE MIXTURES FOR ALCOHOL. SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE VERY MUCH RELATED TO INCREASED RATES OF CARDIAC RELATED ILLNESSES AND HOLIDAY HEART SYNDROME. ALL RIGHT. SOUNDS LIKE YOU’RE SPEAKING RIGHT TO ME THERE, DOCTOR TILGHMAN, BECAUSE I GOT THAT PEPPERMINT MOCHA ON LOCK, ESPECIALLY THIS MONTH. SO THANK YOU FOR THOSE TIPS AND THAT ADVICE. A LOT OF IT, I THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS. WE’RE GOING TO POST A LINK TO ALL
Orlando doctor explains ‘holiday heart syndrome,’ how to stay healthy
Dr. Tywaun Tillman, a cardiologist from Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health, discusses the drastic increases in heart-related ER visits tied to stress, alcohol, overindulgence and disrupted sleep.
Updated: 9:37 AM EST Dec 9, 2025
Dr. Tywaun Tillman, a cardiologist from Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health, discusses the reported drastic increases in heart-related emergency room visits tied to stress, alcohol, overindulgence and disrupted sleep. Cardiologists report a sharp jump in heart-related ER visits during the holidays tied to stress, alcohol, large meals, and disrupted sleep. Tillman explains common warning signs in even healthy adults and mindful practices to stay healthy. Click here to learn more.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
Dr. Tywaun Tillman, a cardiologist from Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health, discusses the reported drastic increases in heart-related emergency room visits tied to stress, alcohol, overindulgence and disrupted sleep.
Cardiologists report a sharp jump in heart-related ER visits during the holidays tied to stress, alcohol, large meals, and disrupted sleep.
Tillman explains common warning signs in even healthy adults and mindful practices to stay healthy.
Click here to learn more.