After drinking too much, my heart beats very fast the next day, and I feel extremely anxious.

Jun 05, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Tian Hongbo

Introduction

Drinking too much usually refers to excessive alcohol consumption. After heavy drinking, one may experience a significantly increased heart rate and palpitations the following day. This could be due to factors such as alcohol metabolism, abnormal sympathetic nervous system activity, or atherosclerosis. Symptoms can be improved through general treatments, medications, and other methods. Besides these causes, alcohol poisoning, hypertension, and arrhythmia could also be possible reasons.

Drinking too much usually refers to excessive alcohol consumption. When someone drinks too much alcohol, experiencing a significantly fast heartbeat and palpitations the next day may be due to factors such as alcohol metabolism, abnormal sympathetic nervous system activity, or atherosclerosis. These symptoms can be improved through general treatments, medications, and other approaches. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Alcohol Metabolism

When a person consumes large amounts of alcohol, the metabolic process of alcohol can cause blood vessel dilation, leading to symptoms such as increased heart rate and palpitations. This is a normal physiological response. Drinking more warm water can help dilute the alcohol concentration in the body and alleviate these symptoms.

2. Sympathetic Nervous System Abnormality

After drinking, if alcohol remains in the body and has not been fully metabolized by the next day, it may stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, causing temporary symptoms such as palpitations, rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, and dizziness. Mild cases generally do not require special treatment. For severe symptoms, medications such as metoprolol tartrate tablets or diltiazem hydrochloride tablets may be taken under medical guidance.

3. Atherosclerosis

Excessive alcohol consumption increases the workload on the heart, and alcohol stimulation can lead to an accelerated heartbeat. In such cases, medications such as enteric-coated aspirin tablets or atorvastatin calcium tablets may be used under medical supervision.

Besides the above causes, similar symptoms could also result from alcohol poisoning, hypertension, or arrhythmia. Patients must follow medical advice when taking medications and should not use drugs blindly to avoid potential harm to their health.

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Are heart palpitations a sign of myocarditis?

Premature contractions are not the same as myocarditis. Premature contractions refer to irregular heartbeats that may represent normal physiological phenomena but could also be associated with organic heart disease. Myocarditis, on the other hand, is usually related to viral infections. These two conditions are distinct; however, severe myocarditis may trigger premature contractions, leading to irregular heartbeats.

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How to manage heart palpitations caused by premature heartbeats

In general, cardiac premature beats refer to premature contractions. Premature contractions and palpitations may be caused by factors such as autonomic nervous system dysfunction, medications or exogenous stimuli, diabetic cardiomyopathy, acute pericarditis, or high-altitude heart disease. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly and, under a doctor's guidance, undergo general treatment, medication, or other appropriate interventions for adjustment.

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Can I take Sanqi powder for heart palpitations?

Premature contraction patients can consume a moderate amount of Panax notoginseng powder (Sanqi powder) under the guidance of a physician. However, its usage must be supervised by a doctor. Because Sanqi powder is warm in nature, it is not recommended for patients with yin deficiency and internal heat, as it may exacerbate their condition. In addition, patients should maintain healthy lifestyle habits and choose suitable forms of exercise in their daily lives.

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Can I exercise with heart palpitations and angina?

Whether individuals with premature contractions accompanied by angina can exercise depends on the frequency of the premature contractions and whether there is coexisting structural heart disease. If the premature contractions are occasional and no structural heart disease is present, moderate exercise is generally permissible. However, if the premature contractions are frequent or structural heart disease is present, exercise is usually not recommended. It is advisable to reduce consumption of stimulants such as coffee, strong tea, and alcohol in daily life.